Section 179.70 - Authority of presiding officerThe presiding officer shall conduct the hearing in a fair and impartial manner subject to the precepts of the Administrative Procedure Act. The presiding officer has all powers necessary to conduct a fair, expeditious, and orderly hearing, including the power to:
(a) Specify and change the date, time, and place for conferences, and issue and modify a schedule for the hearing.(b) Establish an orderly manner for developing evidentiary facts at preliminary conferences under § 179.87 , for making rulings on oral testimony and cross-examination under § 179.93 , and for making other similar evidentiary rulings in accord with these regulations.(c) Prepare statements of the areas of factual disagreement among the participants.(d) Hold conferences to settle, simplify, or determine the issues in a hearing or to consider other matters that may expedite the hearing.(e) Administer oaths and affirmations.(f) Control the course of the hearing and the conduct of the participants.(g) Examine witnesses and strike their testimony if they fail to respond fully to proper questions.(h) Rule on, admit, exclude, or limit evidence.(i) Set the time for filing pleadings.(j) Rule on motions and other procedural matters.(k) Rule on motions for summary decision under § l79.90.(l) Conduct the hearing in stages if the number of parties is large or the issues are numerous and complex.(m) Strike the participation of any person under § l79.42(f), or exclude any person from the hearing under § l79.50, or take other reasonable disciplinary action.(n) Take any other action for the fair, expeditious, and orderly conduct of the hearing that is not in conflict with law or these rules.