(A) If the City Clerk determines that grounds exist for denial, suspension or revocation of a license under this chapter, the City Clerk shall notify the applicant or licensee (respondent) in writing of the intent to deny, suspend or revoke, including a summary of the grounds therefor. The notification shall be by certified mail to the address on file with the City Clerk. Within ten working days of receipt of such notice, the respondent may provide to the City Clerk in writing a response which shall include a statement of reasons why the license or permit should not be denied, suspended or revoked and may include a request for a hearing. If a response is not received by the City Clerk in the time stated, the denial, suspension or revocation shall be final and notice of such will be sent to the applicant or licensee. Within 5 working days after receipt of a response, the City Clerk shall either withdraw the intent to deny, suspend or revoke and so notify the respondent in writing by certified mail or shall schedule a hearing before the Mayor and shall notify the respondent in writing by certified mail of the date, time and place of the hearing. The hearing shall be scheduled not less than 15 nor more than 20 working days after receipt by the City Clerk of the request for a hearing. The hearing shall be conducted in an informal manner. The respondent may be represented by counsel. The rules of evidence shall not apply. The Mayor shall render a written decision within 5 working days after completion of the hearing and shall mail a copy of the decision by certified mail to the address of the respondent on file with the City Clerk. In no event shall more than 45 days elapse between receipt by the City Clerk of a request for a hearing and mailing by the Mayor of a final decision to the respondent. An applicant or licensee may continue to work or perform services under his or her temporary work permit or license pending receipt of the final decision of the Mayor. The decision shall be final at the end of 5 working days after it is mailed and shall constitute final administrative action.
(B) When the decision to deny, suspend or revoke a license becomes final, the applicant or licensee whose application for a license has been denied or whose license has been suspended or revoked shall have the right to seek judicial review of the decision by way of administrative review or other available procedure in the Circuit Court of Ford County, Illinois.
(Ord. 99-37, passed 12-14-99)