All hearings shall be open to the public. No person shall be
excluded unless he/she is considered by the Chair to be a serious
hindrance to the workings of the Board.
An applicant may appear in his/her own behalf, or be represented
by an agent or an attorney. In the absence of any appearance on behalf
of an applicant, the Board shall decide on the matter using the information
it has otherwise received.
The Board may continue a public hearing if the Board finds that
the continuance is necessary or appropriate to allow the applicant
or others to provide additional information. In such a case, the Chair
shall announce to those present, prior to the adjournment of the hearing,
the specific date, time, and place where the hearing will be continued,
and the subject matter to be discussed at the continued hearing. The
Board may require the applicant to re-advertise where it deems such
an action to be in the public interest.
In no case shall the Board allow new evidence to be admitted
after the close of the public hearing. However, written information
may be submitted after the close of the public hearing, provided the
information does not contain new evidence and is intended to clarify
existing factual evidence. In any case, the Board shall have the right
to refuse admission or receipt of information that, in the Board's
opinion, constitutes new evidence or which is otherwise deemed inappropriate.