"Hearing officers must always demonstrate appropriate demeanor and maintain, and appear to maintain, their impartiality prior to, during, and after hearings. This includes avoiding ex-parte conversations with either the agency or the appellant, or suggesting to the parties how the case may be decided. Off-the-record discussions should also be avoided; where such discussions do take place, a precise summary of the conversation should be stated for the record, and agreed upon by the parties, before proceeding. A simpler method would be to leave the tape recorder running at all times. Cassette tapes are cheaper than litigation losses due to incomplete records, and no time need be spent summarizing off the record activity."