The Council shall be the judge of the election and qualifications of its own members. It may remove any member for gross misconduct, or malfeasance in or disqualification for office, or for the conviction while in office of a crime involving moral turpitude, or if adjudicated legally incompetent, or for a violation of the oath of office, or persistent failure to abide by the rules of the Council; provided, however, that such removal shall not take place without the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the remaining members of Council nor until the accused member shall have been notified in writing of the charge at least ten days in advance of a public hearing upon such charge, and the Councilperson or the Councilperson's counsel has been given an opportunity to be heard, present evidence, or examine any witness appearing in support of the charge. The accused member shall not vote on the question of removal.