The Council shall be the judge of the election and qualifications of its members and of the grounds for forfeiture of their office and for that purpose shall have power to subpoena witnesses, administer oaths and require the production of evidence. A member charged with conduct constituting grounds for forfeiture of his/her office, as provided in this Charter or in rules duly adopted by Council, shall be entitled to a public hearing on demand, and notice of such hearing shall be published in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the City, and posted on the City’s Official Website, at least one week in advance of the hearing. Decisions made by the Council under this section shall be subject to review by the courts. The member being charged will not be allowed to vote on his/her own forfeiture. It will require at least four members of Council at the meeting to determine the forfeiture, and it must be by a vote of at least four present Council members.
(Amended 11-2-10)