A. All required hearings shall be conducted before one member of the police committee of the board of trustees of the village, who shall serve as the hearing officer. The date of hearing shall be no sooner than five days after the mailing or posting of the required notice.

B. The village and the owner of the vehicle shall have the opportunity, with or without the assistance of counsel, to present evidence in the issue of abandonment. If the owner fails to appear, a default order may be entered.

C. The hearing officer shall prepare a brief written summary of evidence presented at the hearing, and shall make the following written findings of fact:

1. Notice was or was not given in the form set forth in this chapter;

2. The vehicle was or was not abandoned at the time the notice was given.

D. If the hearing officer finds that notice was properly given and that the vehicle was abandoned, he shall enter an order authorizing the removal of the vehicle by towing or the assessment of towing and storage charges, as the case may be.

E. The decision of the hearing officer is final.

(Ord. 1979-12 § 4, 1979)