No person in the classified civil service shall be removed or discharged from his or her position except for cause, which shall be stated in writing to the board of civil service trustees by the officer or board having the power to remove or discharge such employee, and a copy of said statement shall be served upon the person to be so removed or dis-charged. At any time within fifteen days after the filing with said board of civil service trustees of such statement, said board may on its own motion, and must on application of the discharged employee, inquire into such removal or discharge, and if in its judgment such removal or discharge was without justification and said person removed or discharged is a fit and competent person to retain his or her position, he or she shall be reinstated and restored and shall be entitled to receive compensation during the period of his or her suspension and pending such hearing and reinstatement. (Stats. 1927, p. 2059).
Editor's note: This section was amended by the voters of the city on March 26, 1996.