In reaching a decision official notice may be taken, either before or after submission of the case for decision of any fact which may be judicially noticed by the courts of the State.
(a) Parties to be Notified – Record. Parties present at the hearing shall be informed of the matters to be noticed, and these matters shall be noted in the record, referred to therein, or appended thereto.
(b) Opportunity to Refute. Parties present at the hearing shall be given a reasonable opportunity on request to refute the officially noticed matters by evidence, or by written or oral presentation of authority, the manner of such refutation to be determined by the Board or the hearing examiner.