(A) (1) The Utility Hearing Officer shall conduct a hearing at a reasonable time and place following receipt of a written request by any customer of any village-owned or operated utility, including but not limited to village-owned or operated sewer and water facilities, to take evidence and adjudicate any dispute between the customer and the village utility concerning charges for utility services.
(2) The Hearing Officer shall cause a written notice of the time and place of the hearing to be mailed to or delivered to the customer.
(B) The hearing shall be conducted in an informal manner, and in all respects conducted in such a manner consistent with due process to the customer as to promote the fair, speedy, and inexpensive resolution of disputes. The record for hearing shall consist of file materials and originals or copies of documentary evidence offered at the hearing, plus written findings and conclusions of the Hearing Officer. A verbatim record shall not be required. A form shall be developed under the direction of the Village Manager for use at the hearings, which shall include provisions for requests for hearings, lists of witnesses and documentary evidence, and factual findings and conclusions of the Hearing Officer.
(C) The utility and the customer may offer witness testimony or documentary evidence, and each party may present a written summary of its position. The Hearing Officer may admit and consider evidence of a type commonly relied upon by average people in the conduct of their affairs, without regard to formal rules of evidence. Neither party may be represented by an attorney, unless the Hearing Officer finds affirmatively that the customer is in need of legal representation, in which case both parties may be represented by an attorney at their own expense, but the utility may elect not to be represented by an attorney at its option.
(D) The Hearing Officer shall make written findings of fact and conclusions, which may be to affirm the bill submitted by the utility, to reduce the bill, or to cancel the bill in its entirety. The customer and the utility shall be supplied with a copy of the written findings and conclusions at the end of the hearing.
(Ord. 151, passed 11-3-1986)