When any law, ordinance, rule or regulation provides that a hearing be held or that findings of fact or conclusions of law be made by an agency, a County Hearing Officer may be appointed by the Board of Supervisors to conduct such hearing. The appointment of such a hearing officer is discretionary with the Board of Supervisors even though other provisions of this Chapter are made mandatory by another Section of this Code, which refers to the Chapter and states that the procedures of this Chapter must be used. Unless made mandatory by another Section of this Code, the procedures of this Chapter may be made applicable to a proceeding at the sole discretion of the Board of Supervisors. A hearing officer, so appointed, is authorized to issue subpoenas, to administer oaths, to rule on questions of law and the admissibility of evidence, to receive evidence to prepare a record of the proceedings. to prepare recommended findings, conclusions and a decision, and to submit such record, recommended findings, conclusions, and decision to the agency.
(Ord. 1709, passed - -1972; Am. Ord. 3058, passed - -1986)