New Haven, Conn., Code of Ordinances ch. 17, art. XIV § 17-85

(a) The mayor shall appoint one (1) or more hearing officer(s), who shall not be a City employee, to conduct the hearings authorized by this section. Such hearing officer shall serve without pay. The mayor may remove any such hearing officer at any time for whatever reason they deem sufficient.
(b) If a property owner who is sent a citation as set forth above wishes to admit liability for any alleged violation, they may, without requesting a hearing, pay the full amount of the fine(s) admitted to, in person or by mail to the City. Such payment shall be inadmissible in any proceeding, civil or criminal, to establish the conduct of such person or other person making the payment. Any property owner who does not deliver or mail written demand for a hearing within ten (10) days of the date of receipt of the citation, shall be deemed to have admitted liability, and the designated hearing officer shall certify such property owner's failure to respond to the enforcement officer. Said hearing officer shall thereupon enter and assess the fine(s) so provided for and shall follow the procedures set forth in this article for obtaining a court judgment.
(c) Any property owner who requests a hearing shall be given written notice of the date, time and place for the hearing. Such hearing shall be held not less than fifteen (15) days nor more than thirty (30) days from the date of the mailing of the citation, unless the property owner requesting the hearing agrees to an earlier date. The hearing officer shall grant upon good cause shown any reasonable request by any interested party for postponement or continuance. The City shall present at the hearing the original notice of violation and citation, or a certified copy of such notice and citation, and such original or certified copy shall be deemed to be a business record within the scope of Conn. Gen. Statutes Section 52-180 and evidence of the facts contained therein. The enforcement officer may, but is not required, to appear at the hearing, but shall be required to appear if the owner specifically requests the enforcement officer's presence. A property owner who wishes to contest their liability shall appear at the hearing, and may present evidence on their behalf, or the property owner may request that the hearing be conducted by mail and may submit documents and copies of reports for the hearing officer's review. The hearing officer may grant a request for a hearing by mail or may determine at any time (including after a hearing by mail has been granted and undertaken) that a hearing in person is necessary to fairly adjudicate the matter, and that the property owner must appear in person at a hearing. If the enforcement officer is not able to attend the hearing, and their presence has not been specifically requested by the property owner, a designated City official, other than the hearing officer and other than the enforcement officer, may present evidence on behalf of the City.
(d) If the property owner fails to appear or fails to request a hearing by mail within the timeframe set forth herein, the hearing officer may enter a default upon finding of proper notice and liability under applicable law. The hearing officer shall conduct the hearing in the order and form, and with such methods of proof as they deem fair and appropriate. The rules regarding the admissibility of evidence shall not be strictly applied, but all testimony shall be given under oath or affirmation. The hearing officer shall announce their decision at the end of the hearing. If they determine that the person is not liable, the hearing officer shall dismiss the matter, and enter their determination in writing accordingly. If they determine that the person is liable for the violation(s), the hearing officer shall forthwith enter and assess the fines against such property owner, and levy such fines as provided for herein. The hearing officer shall forward a notice of assessment to the enforcement officer for further action. The City shall have all rights and remedies available to it under applicable law with respect to the collection of the fines following the procedure set forth herein.
(e) If such assessment is not paid on the date of its entry, the code enforcement officer shall send by first class mail a Notice of Assessment to the Owner found liable and shall file, not less than thirty (30) days nor more than twelve (12) months after such mailing, a certified copy of the Notice of Assessment with the Clerk of the Superior Court, Housing Session, 121 Elm Street, New Haven, CT 06510, together with the appropriate entry fee. The certified copy of the Notice of Assessment shall constitute a record of assessment. Within such twelve (12) month period, assessments against the same person may be accrued and filed as one record of assessment. The Clerk shall enter judgment, in the amount of such record of assessment with appropriate court costs against such owner in favor of the City. Notwithstanding any other provision of the General Statutes, the Notice of Assessment, when entered as a court judgment, shall have the effect of a civil money judgment and a levy of execution on such judgment may issue without further notice to such owner.
(f) An owner against whom an assessment has been entered pursuant to this article is entitled to judicial review by way of appeal. An appeal must be instituted within thirty (30) days of the mailing of the notice of such assessment by filing a petition to reopen the assessment, together with an entry fee with the Clerk of the Superior Court, Housing Session 121 Elm Street, New Haven, CT 06510, which shall entitle such person to a court hearing.