The Planning Board and Board of Adjustment may make rules governing the conduct of hearings before such bodies which rules shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55 D-1 et seq. or of this section.

The Officer or Secretary presiding at the hearing or such person as may be designated shall have power to administer oaths and issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of relevant evidence, including witnesses and documents presented by the parties, and the provisions of the County and Municipal Investigations Law, P.L. 1953, c. 38 (N.J.S.A. 2A:67A-1 et seq.), shall apply.

Any maps and documents for which approval is sought at a hearing shall be on file and available for public inspection at least 10 days before the date of the hearing, during normal business hours, in the office of the Secretary of the appropriate Board. The applicant may produce other documents, records or testimony at the hearing to substantiate, clarify or supplement the previously filed maps and documents.

The testimony of all witnesses relating to an application for development shall be taken under oath or affirmation by the presiding officer and the right of cross-examination shall be permitted to all interested parties through their attorneys, if represented, or directly, if not represented, subject to the discretion of the presiding officer and to reasonable limitations as to time and number of witnesses.

Technical rules of evidence shall not be applicable to the hearing but the Board may exclude irrelevant, immaterial or unduly repetitious evidence.

Each Board shall provide for the verbatim recording of the proceedings by either stenographic, mechanical or electronic means. The Board shall furnish a transcript or duplicate recording in lieu thereof on request to any interested party at its expense.