Rules of Practice and Procedure 04-25-13

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oaths or affirmations and to take all other actions necessary for the orderly conduct of the hearing. (b) Continuance of Hearing. Each hearing shall be held at the time and place set in the notice of hearing but may at such time and place be continued by the presiding officer from day to day without notice other than the announcement thereof at the hearing or to a later date in accordance with section 5-2 of these rules. (c) Order of Proceeding. At the commencement of the hearing,the presiding officer shall read the notice of hearing and shall then outline briefly the procedure to be followed. Testimony shall then be received with respect to the matters specified in the notice of hearing in such order as the presiding officer shall prescribe. (d) Submission and Testimony. Each witness shall,before proceeding to testify, state the witness'name, address and whom the witness represents at the hearing, and shall give such information respecting the witness' appearance as the presiding officer may request. The presiding officer shall confine the testimony to the matters for which the hearing has been called but shall not apply the technical rules of evidence. Every witness shall be subject to questioning by the members of the Commission or by any other representative of the Commission. (e) Oral and Written Presentation. Any interested person or agency will be afforded an opportunity to submit data,views, or arguments, orally or in writing,that are relevant to the matters specified in the notice of hearing. The period for filing written comments or recommendations may be extended beyond the hearing date by the presiding officer for good cause. An original and ten copies of any written comments,recommendations, or replies shall be submitted. (e) Transcript of the Evidence. Unless otherwise specifically ordered by the Commission,testimony given at the public hearing shall not be reported verbatim. All supporting written statements, maps, charts,tabulations, or similar data offered in evidence at the hearing, and which are deemed by the presiding officer to be authentic and relevant, shall be received in evidence and made a part of the record. Unless the presiding officer finds that the furnishing of copies is impracticable, seven copies of the exhibits shall be submitted. 5-4 Commission Action. The Commission will consider all relevant comments and material of record before taking final action in a rulemaking proceeding. Final action shall be taken within sixty days after the final public hearing, or after the expiration of any extension period for submission of written comments or recommendations. 5-5 Emergency Rulemaking. If the Commission finds that an imminent peril to public health or safety requires adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule upon less than twenty days'notice of hearing and states in writing its reasons for such finding,it may proceed without prior notice or hearing or upon such abbreviated notice and hearing as it finds practicable to adopt an emergency rule. The Commission shall make an emergency rule known to persons who will be affected by it by publication at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the County. 7-19