The council or any person or committee authorized by it for the purpose, shall have power to inquire into the conduct of any department, office, officer or employee of the City of Fremont, and to make investigations as to matters in which the municipality has an interest. The council, for the purpose stated herein, may summon witnesses, administer oaths, and compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, and other evidence.
Failure on the part of any officer to obey such summons or to produce books, papers, and other evidence as ordered under the provisions of this section shall constitute misconduct in office. Failure on the part of any employee to obey such summons or to produce books, papers, or other evidence as ordered under the provisions of this section, shall constitute a violation of this Charter and such employee when found guilty of such violation by a competent tribunal may be punished by a fine of not to exceed five hundred dollars, or imprisonment not to exceed ninety days, or both, in the discretion of the court.
It is provided further that, in case of failure on the part of any person to obey such summons or to produce such books, papers, and other evidence as so ordered, the council may invoke the aid of the Circuit Court of Newaygo County in requiring obeyance of such summons or production of such books, papers, and other evidence.