(1) The board, the executive secretary, or the hearings examiner may direct the parties or their representatives to engage in a prehearing conference or conferences to consider the following:

(a) Simplification or limitation of issues;

(b) The possibility of obtaining stipulations, admissions of fact and admissions of the genuineness of documents which will avoid unnecessary proof;

(c) Discovery, discovery methods and discovery deadlines;

(d) The number of witnesses expected to be called and their names when possible;

(e) The approximate time necessary for presentation of the evidence of the respective parties;

(f) Whether or when motions may be brought;

(g) Exhibits;

(h) Affidavits; and

(i) Such other matters as may aid in the prompt disposition of the appeal.

(2) A prehearing conference may be conducted by the executive secretary, a hearings examiner, or one or more board members. It may be held in conjunction with a mediation conference.

(3) The results of the prehearing conference shall be stated on the record of the proceeding, if any, or in a subsequent written order. The statement or order shall include, where applicable, agreements or rulings concerning issues, admissions, stipulations, witnesses, discovery, length of hearing, motions, exhibits, affidavits, and other matters that may expedite the appeal hearing. The statement or order resulting from the prehearing conference shall control the subsequent course of the appeal, subject to modification upon a filing of exceptions to the statement or order.

(4) Prehearing conferences may be held by telephone with the consent of the parties or in person at a time and place specified by the board, the executive secretary, or the hearings examiner. Refusal by a party to participate in a prehearing conference may result in dismissal of the appeal, or other appropriate sanctions.

(5) During a hearing, the board or the hearings examiner may recess the hearing for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of subsection (1) of this section.

(6) The parties are encouraged where possible to resolve their disputes by agreement. To facilitate such resolution, the presiding officer, at the prehearing conference, may recess the conference at any time to give the parties time to discuss settlement of their dispute. In the event settlement is reached, the fact of settlement shall be stated on the record, if any, of the prehearing conference or in a written order, the parties shall indicate their concurrence on the record, and the appellant shall sign a request to withdraw the appeal. If no settlement is reached at a prehearing conference, the presiding officer shall ask the parties to identify acceptable dates for a hearing and shall attempt to schedule the hearing in consultation with the board.