A hearing examiner shall conduct a hearing or appeal in a manner that ascertains the substantial rights of the parties. A hearing examiner is not bound by statutory or common law rules of evidence or technical rules of procedure. A hearing examiner shall consider evidence offered in accordance with § 10–213 of the State Government Article. A hearing examiner may not participate in any proceeding in which the hearing examiner has a direct or indirect interest. The status of the Secretary as a party to a case may not constitute a direct or indirect interest as to a hearing examiner. Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, ex parte communications are subject to § 10–219 of the State Government Article. Section 10–219(d) of the State Government Article does not apply to ex parte communications under this subtitle. A hearing examiner may consolidate claims by more than one individual or claims by a single individual for 2 or more weeks of unemployment if: the same or substantially similar evidence is relevant and material to the matters at issue; and in the judgment of the hearing examiner, the consolidation would not be prejudicial to a party. When claims are consolidated under this subsection, the hearing examiner may: set the same time and place for considering each claim; conduct joint hearings; make a single record of the proceedings; and consider evidence that is introduced in a proceeding for one claim as having been introduced for another claim. A record shall be kept, in accordance with § 10–218 of the State Government Article, of all testimony and proceedings before a hearing examiner. Testimony shall be transcribed if: judicial review is initiated; or the hearing examiner or the Board of Appeals orders a transcription. A witness who is subpoenaed under this subtitle is entitled to compensation at a rate that the chief hearing examiner sets. The compensation of a witness who is subpoenaed on behalf of the Lower Appeals Division or a claimant shall be considered part of the expense of administering this title. The Lower Appeals Division may not charge a claimant a fee in any proceeding under this title. A hearing examiner promptly shall give each party to a proceeding before it written notice of its decision by mailing the notice to each party at the last known address of the party or business address of a licensee in accordance with § 10–209(a) of the State Government Article, or otherwise delivering the notice. The notice shall: include the findings of fact and conclusions of law that support the decision; be accompanied by any order necessary to give effect to the decision; and conform to the requirements of § 10–221 of the State Government Article.