§ 2-397. Opening and continuing hearing; presentation of petition.

(a)

Chair opens hearing and administers oaths. The chair, who shall be the duly appointed chair of the planning and zoning board or a duly appointed hearing officer presiding over the public hearing process, will begin each public hearing by announcing the name of the petitioner and the relief requested. The chair will explain the procedures for the conduct of the public hearing and administer an oath to all persons intending to testify during the course of the public hearing. The chair will remind those people previously sworn under oath from a continued public hearing that they remain under oath.

(b)

Village staff presents summary of petition. Following the opening of the hearing and administration of oaths, village staff will summarize the basic facts of, and relief requested in, the petition. In the event that the hearing is continued from a previous date, staff will be asked to provide any new, additional, or supplemental information.

(c)

Petitioner presents petition with testimony and other evidence. The petitioner will present the petition with testimony of witnesses and other evidence. In general, the planning and zoning board should allow the petitioner to make this presentation without interruption, except for those questions allowed by the chair that may be immediately necessary to aid the planning and zoning board or the public in understanding a particular aspect of the presentation.

(d)

Comments by attorneys not considered as testimony or evidence. Nothing said by attorneys representing any party will be considered evidence or testimony, unless the attorney's client is not present at the public hearing.

(Code 1978, § 2-3-4; Code 1997, § 2-334; Ord. No. 12-04-05, § 1, 4-3-2012)