Any person aggrieved by any action of the commission may appeal to the director. The director shall review the record of the proceedings before the commission. If the director finds that the record shows by substantial evidence that the commission’s action was not an abuse of discretion or illegal, he shall dismiss such appeal. If he finds such action is not substantially sustained by the record, was an abuse of discretion, or illegal, he may reverse the action of the commission.

Any such decision of the director is subject to judicial review upon petition of the commission or any party aggrieved by the decision.