Section 170 Board hearings; subpoena powers - Massachusetts Statutes

Section 170. The board shall conduct its proceedings in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and chapter thirty A. Any individual may be heard by the board in person or by an attorney. Every vote and official act of the board shall be entered on the record. All hearings and rule making proceedings shall be open to the public. A stenographic record shall be made of every hearing before the board.

The board shall have subpoena power to require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of all books, papers and documents relating to any matter under investigation. Subpoenas shall be issued by the board upon application by any party to a proceeding before the board and a showing of general relevance and reasonable scope. Witnesses summoned before the board shall be paid the same fees and mileage paid witnesses in courts of the commonwealth. In case of disobedience of a subpoena, the board may apply to the superior court for an order requiring the person subpoenaed to appear before the board and testify and produce books, papers, or documents called for by such subpoena.

One or more board members or a hearing examiner or other officer appointed by the board shall preside at hearings.