In any case where an official or officer of a city of the second class or any agency thereof specifically empowered to conduct public hearings, such officer, official or agency shall have authority for the purposes of such hearings to issue subpoenas for the attendance and giving of testimony of such witnesses as are subject to the subpoenas of the courts of record of this Commonwealth, and to issue subpoenas duces tecum as to such witnesses. In the case of an agency, such subpoenas shall issue in the name of the city and of the agency upon the signature of the presiding officer thereof and the official seal, if any, of the agency.

Any witness who refuses to obey a subpoena issued hereunder or who refuses to be sworn or affirmed or to testify after summons to appear may be cited for contempt, and for this purpose an application may be made to any court of common pleas within whose territorial jurisdiction the refusal occurred for which purpose such court is hereby given jurisdiction.