(a) The Mayor has the exclusive right to suspend any of the officers or employees of the village for incompetence, gross neglect of duty, gross immorality, habitual drunkenness, failure to obey orders given them by the proper authority, or for any other reasonable or just cause.
(b) If an employee is suspended under this section, the Mayor immediately shall certify this fact in writing, together with the cause for the suspension and immediately shall serve a true copy of the charges upon the person against whom they are made. Within five (5) days of receiving this notification, the Mayor shall hold a meeting with said officer or employee and render a judgment on it. The judgment of the Mayor may be for the person’s suspension, reduction in rank/position, or removal from the department.
(c) Suspensions of officers or full time employees of more than three (3) days, reduction in rank/position, or removal from the department under this section may be appealed by the officer or employee to the legislative authority of the village within five (5) days from the date of the Mayor’s judgment. The legislative authority shall hear the appeal at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The person against whom the judgment has been rendered may appear in person and by counsel at the hearing, examine all witnesses, and answer all charges against that person.
(d) At the conclusion of the hearing, the legislative authority may dismiss the charges, uphold the Mayor’s judgment, or modify the judgment to one of suspension for not more than sixty (60) days, reduction in rank/position, or removal from the department.
(e) Action of the legislative authority removing or suspending the accused from the department requires the affirmative vote of a majority of Council members; the Mayor holds no vote in this action.
(f) Section 147.17 does not replace Ohio R.C. 737.171 or 737.19 when related to Marshal or police officers. (Ord. 17-2009. Passed 12-9-09.)