(A) Investigation; access to records.
(1) 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 and record the testimony or statements of such persons as are reasonably necessary for the furtherance of the investigation; provided, however, that the chief executive officer first complies with the provisions of the fourth amendment relating to unreasonable searches and seizures.
(2) The chief executive officer may issue subpoenas to compel his or her access to or the production of such materials, or the appearance of such persons, and may issue interrogatories to a respondent, to the same extent and subject to the same limitations as 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.
(3) The chief executive officer may administer oaths.
(B) Respondent; subpoenas. 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 by the chief executive officer himself or herself. 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 his or her request.
(C) Witnesses; fees. 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 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) Petition to revoke or modify subpoena. 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 an unreasonable time or place, that it requires production of evidence which 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) Refusal to obey subpoena. 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, was served or transacts business.
(F) Town Attorney; litigation. 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, § 5-7-11) Penalty, see § 94.99