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 his or her oath of office, or for persistent failure to abide by the rules of the Council, provided, however, that such removal shall not take place without the affirmative vote of five members of Council nor until the accused shall have been notified in writing of the charge against him or her at least ten days in advance of a public hearing upon such charge, and he or she or his or her counsel has been given an opportunity to be heard, present evidence and examine any witness appearing in support of the charge. The accused shall not vote on the question of his or her removal.