(A) A person who denies the commission of a civil offense may request a hearing before a Hearing Examiner. The request shall be filed with the Hearing Examiner, care of the Zoning Review Board which shall set a date for the hearing and notify the person, in writing, of the date, time and location of the hearing. The hearing may be informal, but all testimony shall be under oath.
(B) All hearings shall be scheduled within ten days and will be held within 30 days from the date the request for hearing is filed. Any hearing date may be modified if such modification is agreed to by the person charged, by the city officer or employee who issued the charge and by the Hearing Examiner, or if such modification is necessary in the interest of justice.
(C) The Hearing Examiner shall enter into the record of the proceedings the notice of the civil offense and civil fine, the filing of or the failure to file an answer, the substance of the answer, a finding of liability, the civil fine due, payments, delinquency and collection charges, and other relevant information.
(D) The Hearing Examiner shall issue a decision and make findings of fact from the record and conclusions of law in support of the decision within ten days from the close of the hearing. The findings and conclusions shall demonstrate that the decision is consistent with applicable laws, ordinances, regulations and the interest of justice. Any unpaid civil fine is due and must be paid within ten days after the date of the Hearing Examiner's decision.
(E) If the person has taken an administrative appeal authorized by the Van Wert Municipal Code of Ordinances from an order on which the offense is based, the Hearing Examiner must extend the time for answering the notice of civil offense until the appeal has been finally resolved.
(Ord. 11-12-078, passed 12-12-2011)