(a) Notwithstanding any other City ordinance, rule or regulation to the contrary, every employee in the service of the City shall have the right at all times to have present and be represented by the counsel of his or her choice, including legal counsel, at any disciplinary hearing, which includes all the formal or informal preliminary steps, stages or levels of hearings, investigations, or interrogations of any kind, including but not limited to the questioning of any employee, which may result in or lead to any disciplinary and/or criminal charges being brought against any such employee.
(b) Any disciplinary or other proceedings which have been initiated and/or are pending, but not yet consummated or concluded either by way of formal hearing and/or a final order which proceedings were initiated, investigated, or undertaken in violation of the foregoing provisions, shall be forthwith dismissed and the disciplinary proceedings represented thereby shall be forever barred and any affected employee(s) shall be immediately reinstated with full back pay and all other emoluments of office.
(c) Every disciplinary hearing, held in violation of the provisions of this section shall be void ab initio.
(d) Whoever violates or attempts to violate the rights of any employee, as set forth herein, is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(Ord. No. 2430-76. Passed 11-15-76, eff. 11-16-76)