The Council shall be the judge of the election and qualifications of its own members. It may punish, or remove from the Council any member for gross misconduct, misfeasance, malfeasance, nonfeasance, disqualification for office, or for the conviction while in office of a crime involving moral turpitude, or for a violation of his oath of office, or persistent failure to abide by the rules of the Council or absence without justifiable excuse from three (3) consecutive regular meetings of the Couuncil, provided however, that such punishment or expulsion shall not take place without the concurrence of 2/3 of all the members elected to Council; nor until the accused member shall have been notified in writing of the charge against him, at least ten (10) days in advance of a public hearing upon such charge, at which he or his counsel shall have been given an opportunity to be heard, present evidence and examine any witness appearing in support of, or against such charge.