(A) Scheduling of hearings. When a hearing has been requested, the Code Enforcement Board or its administrative staff shall schedule a hearing.
(B) Notice. Not less than seven days before the date of the hearing, the Board shall notify the requester of the date, time and place of the hearing. The notice may be given by certified mail, return receipt requested; by personal delivery, or by leaving the notice at the person’s usual place of residence with any individual residing therein who is 18 years of age or older and who is informed of the contents of the notice.
(C) Failure to appear at hearing. Any person requesting a hearing who fails to appear at the time and place set for the hearing shall be deemed to have waived the right to a hearing to contest the citation, and the determination that a violation was committed shall be final. In this event, the citation as issued shall be deemed a final order determining the violation was committed and imposing the civil fine set forth in the citation as non-contested and not paid within the seven-day deadline, and the alleged violator shall be deemed to have waived the right to appeal the final order to District Court. Notice of a final order shall be provided to the cited violator by regular first class mail; certified mail, return receipt requested; personal delivery; or by leaving the notice at the person’s usual place of residence with any individual residing therein who is 18 years of age or older and who is informed of the contents of the notice.
(D) Testimony. All testimony shall be taken under oath and recorded. Testimony shall be taken from the Code Enforcement Officer, the alleged violator, and any witnesses to the violation offered by the Code Enforcement Officer or alleged violator. Formal rules of evidence shall not apply, but fundamental due process shall be observed and shall govern the proceedings.
(E) Findings of fact and final determination. The Code Enforcement Board shall, based on the evidence, determine whether a violation was committed. If the Board determines that no violation was committed, an order dismissing the citation shall be entered. If the Board determines that a violation was committed, the Board shall issue an order upholding the citation and either imposing a fine up to the maximum authorized by this or another ordinance, or requiring the offender to remedy a continuing violation within a specified time, or both.
(F) Final orders to be written. Every final order of the Code Enforcement Board shall be reduced to writing, which shall include the findings and conclusions of the Board and the date the order was issued. A copy shall be furnished to the person named in the citation. If the person named in the citation is not present when the final order is issued, the order shall be delivered to that person by certified mail, return receipt requested; by personal delivery, or by having a copy of the order at the person’s usual place of residence with any individual residing therein who is 18 years of age or older and who is informed of the contents of the order.
(Ord. 14-2019, passed 11-5-2019)