The following rules of evidence shall apply:
A. Oral evidence shall be taken only under oath or affirmation. The Hearing Officer shall have authority to administer oaths, and to receive and rule on admissibility of evidence.
B. Each party shall have the right to call and examine witnesses, to introduce exhibits and to cross-examine opposing witnesses who have testified under direct examination. The Hearing Officer may call and examine any witness.
C. Technical rules relating to evidence and witnesses shall not apply to hearings provided for herein. Any relevant evidence may be admitted if it is material and is evidence customarily relied upon by responsible persons in the conduct of their affairs regardless of the existence of any common law or statutory law which might make admission of such evidence improper over objection in civil actions. Hearsay testimony may be used for the purpose of supplementing or explaining any evidence given in direct examination, but shall not be sufficient in itself to support a finding unless such testimony would be admissible over objection in civil actions. The rules of privilege shall be applicable to the extent that they now, or hereafter, are permitted in civil actions. Irrelevant, collateral, undue, and repetitious testimony shall be excluded. (Ord. 3270, § 5, 2019)