Section 1.14 - Impartial Hearing Officer's Duties and Powers at Hearings(1) The impartial hearing officer shall conduct the hearing to ensure that the rights of all parties are protected in accordance with the informal adjudicatory rules as found at 801 CMR 1.02(10)(2) The impartial hearing officer shall be responsible to make appropriate evidentiary rulings regarding the relevance of testimony and/or documents, issues of privilege and authentication of documents as well as limit testimony to relevant and defined issues. The hearing officer also has the authority to dismiss the appeal in the event that an individual fails to appear or continually disrupts a hearing.