The municipal agency shall hold a hearing on
each proposed adoption, amendment or revision of the Master Plan and
on each application for development.
Any maps and documents proposed or for which
approval is sought shall be on file and available for public inspection
at least 10 days before the date of the hearing during normal business
hours in the office of the administrative officer. Other documents,
records or testimony may be produced at the hearing to substantiate,
clarify or supplement the previously filed maps and documents.
The officer presiding at the hearing or such
person as he may designate shall have power to administer oaths and
issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production
of relevant evidence, and the provisions of the County and Municipal
Investigation Law, P.L. 1953, c. 38 (N.J.S.A. 2A:67A-1 et seq.), shall
apply.
The testimony of all witnesses relating to an
application for development shall be taken under oath or affirmation
by the presiding officer, and the right of cross-examination shall
be permitted to all interested parties through their attorneys, if
represented, or directly, if not represented, subject to the discretion
of the presiding officer and to reasonable limitations as to time
and number of witnesses.
Technical rules of evidence shall not be applicable,
but the agency may exclude irrelevant, immaterial or unduly repetitious
evidence.
The municipal agency shall provide for the verbatim
recording of the proceedings by either stenographic, mechanical or
electronic means and shall furnish a transcript or duplicate recording
in lieu thereof on request to any interested party at his expense.
