Issues. The chairman shall decide all issues of law. The panel, in its entirety, shall decide all issues of fact. Duties of the Chairman. The chairman shall: Decide all prehearing procedures including issues relating to discovery; Contact all parties within 2 months of appointment to determine a schedule for completion of discovery and a tentative hearing date, in accordance with Regulations .09C and .11A(1) of this chapter, and issue a scheduling order to all parties and the Director; Keep all parties, the panel, the court reporter, and the Director informed of the selected hearing date, postponements, or cancellations, and adjust the schedule as necessary to accommodate the panel; and Invoke, when necessary, the authority, powers, and directions as would be exercised normally by a circuit court judge in order to preserve the orderly progress of the case, except for contempt citations. Majority of Panel. An arbitration panel shall exercise its authority by a majority. The Director, if admitted to the Maryland Bar, and when a chairman has not been appointed or is temporarily unable to serve, may rule on issues of law that are not dispositive of the case and on the assessment of costs.