a. The council shall engage in a mediation and review process in the following situations: (1) if an objection to the municipality’s petition for substantive certification is filed with the council within the time specified in section 14 of this act; or (2) if a request for mediation and review is made pursuant to section 16 of this act.

b. In cases in which an objection is filed to substantive certification the council shall meet with the municipality and the objectors and attempt to mediate a resolution of the dispute. If the mediation is successful, the council shall issue a substantive certification if it finds that the criteria of section 14 of this act have been met.

c. If the mediation efforts are unsuccessful, the matter shall be transferred to the Office of Administrative Law as a contested case as defined in the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L. 1968, c. 410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.).

The Office of Administrative Law shall expedite its hearing process as much as practicable by promptly assigning an administrative law judge to the matter; promptly scheduling an evidentiary hearing; expeditiously conducting and concluding the evidentiary hearing; limiting the time allotted for briefs, proposed findings of fact, conclusions of law, forms of order or other disposition, or other supplemental material; and the prompt preparation of the initial decision. A written transcript of all oral testimony and copies of all exhibits introduced into evidence shall be submitted to the council by the Office of Administrative Law simultaneously with a copy of the initial decision. The evidentiary hearings shall be concluded and the initial decision issued no later than 90 days after the transmittal of the matter as a contested case to the Office of Administrative Law by the council, unless the time is extended by the Director of the Office of Administrative Law for good cause shown.

L. 1985, c. 222, s. 15, eff. July 2, 1985, operative July 2, 1985.