The Council shall constitute the court for the trial of all officers against whom charges have been preferred, and shall be the judges of the law and the evidence. The Mayor shall preside, except when he shall be on trial, in which case the Council shall choose one of their own number to preside, in whom shall be vested all the powers of the Mayor for the enforcement of the trial. The rules of evidence as allowed by the civil courts of the state shall govern. Charges shall be made in writing, setting forth the offense and the specifications of the same, and made under oath or affirmation, and shall be accompanied with a list of witnesses, and each charge when so made shall be filed with the Clerk-Treasurer and by him shall be referred to the Council for action at the next meeting thereafter. Upon such reference, the Council shall fix the time for the trial of the charges and a copy of the charges shall be regularly served upon the accused by the Chief of Police together with notice of the day fixed for the hearing thereof. Both the accused and the accuser shall have the right of process for the attendance of witnesses, which process shall be served by the proper officer, and both parties shall have the right to appear before the Council on the trial of the cause in person or by attorney or by both. Should the accused refuse or neglect to obey the process or fail to appear before the Council on the day fixed for the hearing as herein set forth, the Council may hear and determine the same in his absence. After the evidence and argument shall have been heard, the Council shall go into executive session and shall make up their verdict, which shall be presented in writing and made part of the record of the city, along with all other proceedings under these rules.
(‘85 Code, § 3.06)