Oral evidence shall be taken only upon oath or affirmation.
Each party shall have these rights: to call and examine witnesses to introduce exhibits; to cross-examine opposing witnesses on any matter relevant to the issues, even though that matter was not covered on direct examination; to impeach any witness regardless of which party first called him or her to testify; and to rebut the evidence against him or her. If respondent does not testify on his or her own behalf, he or she may be called and examined as if under cross-examination, and the party calling him or her in this manner is not bound by the testimony elicited.
The hearing need not be conducted according to technical rules relating to evidence and witnesses. Any relevant evidence shall be admitted if it is the sort of evidence on which responsible persons are accustomed to rely in the conduct of serious affairs, regardless of the existence of any common law or statutory rule which might make improper the admission of such evidence over objection in civil actions. The rules of privilege shall be effective to the same extent that they are now or hereafter may be recognized in civil actions, and irrelevant and unduly repetitious evidence shall be excluded.
(Ord. 1709, passed - -1972)