Referees; Chief Referee; Principal Referees

(Statutory reference: 31-237i, 31-237j) (a) The Referee Section shall include such Referees as the Board deems necessary for the prompt processing of appeals and the performance of the duties set forth in these regulations and the Connecticut General Statutes. Each such Referee shall be appointed by the Board and shall be in the classified service of the State. Any vacancy in the office of Referee shall be filled through appointment by the Board. Each Referee shall have statewide jurisdiction and venue. Any Referee may, at any time, serve in place of any other Referee with regard to any appeal, provided the succeeding Referee shall review the entire file and hearing record of such appeal, including such records prepared by any preceding Referee, before issuing a decision addressing the merits of such appeal. In any case before the Referee Section, the Chief Referee, upon his own initiative or the request of any party, may direct that the appeal be heard and the decision issued by a panel of Referees. In any case before the Board the Board may delegate to a Referee the taking or hearing of evidence or such other matters as set forth in these regulations. A Referee may provide assistance and advice to the Board or any of its members in the discharge of their duties, except that no Referee shall provide advice in any matter before the Board in which that Referee was previously involved at the first level of appeal. (b) The Chairman of the Board shall designate from among the Referees a Chief Referee. The Chief Referee shall be in the classified service. The Chief Referee shall be the administrative head of the Referee Section and may delegate to any Referee or any person employed in the Referee Section such authority as the Chief Referee deems reasonable and proper for the effective administration of his duties.