The presiding officer may:
Administer oaths and affirmations;
Rule upon offers of proof and receive relevant evidence;
Fix the time and place of hearing;
Regulate the course of the hearing;
Exclude any person from the hearing for contumacious conduct or misbehavior that obstructs the hearing;
Hold conferences for simplification of the issues, or for any other purpose;
Dispose of procedural requests or similar matters;
Authorize the filing of briefs and set the time for filing;
Make initial decisions; and
Take any other action in the course of the proceeding consistent with the purposes of this subpart.