The Commissioner of Agriculture may designate as an agent of the commissioner: (1) Any deputy commissioner or any employee of the department to exercise all or part of the authority, powers and duties of said commissioner in the absence of the commissioner, (2) any deputy commissioner or any employee, assistant or agent employed by the Department of Agriculture to exercise such authority of the Commissioner of Agriculture as the commissioner delegates for the administration or enforcement of any applicable statute, regulation, permit or order, (3) any deputy commissioner, employee, assistant or agent employed by the Department of Agriculture who is deemed qualified by the commissioner to act as a hearing officer in administrative hearings, (4) two or more qualified persons, one of whom shall be designated as the presiding officer to conduct administrative hearings, and (5) any qualified person to serve as a hearing officer for contested cases who may be compensated for such service. Any such hearing officer appointed by the commissioner shall render a proposed final decision or the final decision as directed by the commissioner except that the commissioner or deputy commissioner shall consider and make the final decision when modification or reconsideration of a contested case is requested by a party pursuant to § 4-181a.