(A) Creation of position. The position of Administrative Hearing Officer is hereby created to hear and adjudicate allegations of code violations brought by the Village and to impose fines, costs and penalties for such violations as are proven. The Administrative Hearing Officer shall be appointed by the Village President and the Village President hereby is authorized and empowered to appoint, with the advice and consent of the Village Board of Trustees, an individual or firm to provide the services of Administrative Hearing Officer as an independent contractor on a part-time basis with such individual or firm to serve as the pleasure of the Village President. The position of Administrative Hearing Officer shall not be a civil service position and the Village President shall have the authority to remove, replace or reappoint such individual or firm from time to time as he, in his sole discretion, may choose with any new appointment subject to the advice and consent of the Village Board of Trustees.
(B) Qualifications of Hearing Officer. Every hearing officer must be an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois for at least 3 years. Prior to conducting any proceedings, the hearing officers shall successfully complete a formal training program that includes the following:
(1) Instruction on the rules of procedure of the hearing that they will conduct;
(2) Orientation to each subject area of the code violations that they will administer;
(3) Observation of administrative hearings; and
(4) Participation in hypothetical cases, including rules on evidence and issuing final orders.
(C) Public Safety Employee Benefits Act Hearing Officer. The Administrative Hearing Officer shall additionally act as a hearing officer under the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act (ILCS Ch. 820, Act 320, §§ 1 et seq.). He shall hold a hearing and make a determination if an employee subject to the Act is entitled to the benefits provided by the Act. The decision may be appealed to the Circuit Court under the Administrative Review Act.
(Ord. 2011-24, passed 7-7-2011; Am. Ord. 2011-41, passed 10-6-2011)