The county board of supervisors may appoint one or more assessment hearing officers or contract with the Office of Administrative Hearings for the services of an administrative law judge pursuant to Chapter 14 (commencing with Section 27720) of Part 3 of Division 2 of Title 3 of the Government Code to conduct hearings on any assessment protests filed under Article 1 (commencing with Section 1601) of this chapter and to make recommendations to the county board of equalization or assessment appeals board concerning the protests. Only persons meeting the qualifications prescribed by Section 1624 may be appointed as an assessment hearing officer.