Executive panel sessions; form of award

(a) The executive panel session is the session held to decide the case after the last hearing or the briefing date, whichever is later. The panel shall schedule an agreed upon date for an executive panel session which shall be held not more than thirty days after the last hearing or the briefing date, whichever is later. (b) Oral awards may be rendered upon mutual request of the parties. Whether or not an oral award has been rendered, an award shall be reduced to writing and signed by the members of the panel. (c) Decisions shall be made by majority vote of the panel members. A panel member may express his disapproval of the majority decision by adding the word "dissenting" after his signature on the award or said panel member may also prepare a dissenting opinion which shall be sent to the board's office and will be made part of the award proper.