Virginia Law

Hearings before the board, commissioner or the commissioner's designees shall include any of the following forms depending on the nature of the controversy and the interests of the parties involved.

A. Informal hearings. An informal hearing is a meeting with the district or local health department with the district or local health director presiding and held in conformance with § 9-6.14:11 of the Code of Virginia. The district or local health department shall consider all evidence presented at the meeting which is relevant to the issue in controversy. Presentation of evidence, however, is entirely voluntary. The district or local health department shall have no subpoena power. No verbatim record need be taken at the informal hearing. The local or district health director shall review the facts presented and based on those facts render a decision. A written copy of the decision and the basis for the decision shall be sent to the appellant within 15 work days of the hearing unless the parties mutually agree to a later date in order to allow the department to evaluate additional evidence. If the decision is adverse to the interests of the appellant, an aggrieved appellant may request an adjudicatory hearing pursuant to 12VAC5-610-200 B.

B. Adjudicatory hearing for appeals of denials of sewage system construction permits. The adjudicatory hearing is a formal, public adjudicatory proceeding before the commissioner, the Sewage Handling and Disposal Appeal Review Board or a designated hearing officer, and held in conformance with § 9-6.14:12 of the Code of Virginia. An adjudicatory hearing includes the following features:

1. Notice. Notice which states the time and place and the issues involved in the prospective hearing shall be sent to the owner or the person who is the subject of the hearing. Notice shall be sent by certified mail at least 15 calendar days before the hearing is to take place.

2. Record. A verbatim record of the hearing shall be made by a court reporter. A copy of the transcript of the hearing, if transcribed, will be provided within a reasonable time to any person upon written request and payment of the cost.

3. Evidence. All interested parties shall attend the hearing and submit oral and documentary evidence and rebuttal proofs, expert or otherwise, that is material and relevant to the issues in controversy. The admissibility of evidence shall be determined in accordance with § 9-6.14:12 of the Code of Virginia.

4. Counsel. All parties may be accompanied by and represented by counsel and are entitled to conduct such cross-examination as may elicit a full and fair disclosure of the facts.

5. Subpoena. Pursuant to § 9-6.14:13 of the Code of Virginia, the commissioner, Sewage Handling and Disposal Appeal Board, or hearing officer may issue subpoenas on behalf of themselves for the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, maps or other materials. Failure to appear or to testify or to produce materials without adequate excuse may be reported by the commissioner to the appropriate circuit court for enforcement.

6. Judgement and final order. The commissioner may designate a hearing officer or subordinate to conduct the hearing as provided in § 9-6.14:12 of the Code of Virginia, and to make written recommended findings of fact and conclusions of law to be submitted for review and final decision by the commissioner. The final decision of the commissioner shall be reduced to writing and will contain the explicit findings of fact upon which his decision is based. A certified copy of the decision shall be delivered to the affected owner. Notice of a decision will be served upon the parties and become a part of the record. Service may be by personal service or certified mail, return receipt requested.