(A) In conducting an investigation, the Chief Executive Officer shall have access at all reasonable times to premises, records, documents, individuals, and other evidence or possible sources of evidence and may examine, record, and copy such materials and take record of the testimony or statements of such persons as are reasonably necessary for the furtherance of the investigation; provided however, the Chief Executive Officer first complies with the provisions of the U.S. Constitution, Amendment IV, relating to unreasonable searches and seizures. The Chief Executive Officer may issue subpoena to complete his or her access to or the production of such materials or the appearance of such person and may issue interrogatories to a respondent to the same extent and subject to the same limitations that would apply if the subpoenas or interrogatories were issued or served in aid of a civil action in the United States District Court for the district in which the investigation is taking place. The Chief Executive Officer may administer oaths.
(B) Upon written application to the Chief Executive Officer, a respondent shall be entitled to the issuance of a reasonable number of subpoenas by and in the name of the Chief Executive Officer to the same extent and subject to the same limitations as subpoenas issued at the request of a respondent, shall show on their face the name and address of such respondent, and shall state that they were issued at this request.
(C) Witnesses summoned by subpoena of the Chief Executive Officer shall be entitled to the same witness and mileage fees as are witnesses in proceedings in the United States District Courts. Fees payable to a witness summoned by a subpoena issued at the request of a respondent shall be paid by him or her.
(D) Within five days after service of a subpoena upon any person, such person may petition the Chief Executive Officer to revoke or modify the subpoena. The Chief Executive Officer shall grant the petition if he or she finds that the subpoena requires appearance or attendance at unreasonable time or place; that it does not relate to any matter under investigation; that it does not describe, with sufficient particularity, the evidence to be produced; that compliance would be unduly onerous; or for other good reason.
(E) In case of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpoena, the Chief Executive Officer or other person at whose request it was issued may petition for its enforcement in the Municipal or State Court for the district in which the person to whom the subpoena was addressed resides or was served to transact business.
(F) Any person who willfully fails or neglects to attend and testify or to answer any lawful inquiry or to produce records, documents, or other evidence, if in his or her power to do so and in obedience to the subpoena or lawful order of the Chief Executive Officer, may be issued punishment allowed by state law. Any person who, with intent thereby to mislead the Chief Executive Officer, shall make or cause to be made any false entry or statement of fact in any report, account, record, or other document submitted to the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to his or her subpoena or other order or shall willfully neglect or fail to make or cause to be made full, true, and correct entries in such reports, accounts, records, or other documents or shall willfully mutilate, alter, or by any other means falsify any documentary evidence shall be punished to the full extent of the law allows.
(G) The Town Attorney shall conduct all litigation in which the Chief Executive Officer participates as a party or as amicus pursuant to this chapter.
(Prior Code, § 1-185)