The hearing officer shall have full authority to conduct the hearing. The hearing officer shall report his or her findings and recommendations to the Board and the Secretary. The Board shall review the report of the hearing officer and present its findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations to the Secretary. If the Secretary determines that the Board’s report is contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence, he or she may issue an order in contravention of the Board’s report. Nothing in this Section shall prohibit a Board member from attending an informal conference and such participation shall not be grounds for recusal from any other proceeding.