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, misfeasance or nonfeasance in or disqualification for office, or for the conviction while in office of any felony or other crime involving moral turpitude, or if adjudicated legally incompetent, or for a violation of his/her oath of office, or persistent failure to abide by the rules of the Council; provided, however, that such removal shall not take place without the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the remaining members of Council nor until the accused member shall have been notified in writing of the charge against him/her at least ten (10) days in advance of a public hearing upon such charge, and he/she or his/her counsel has been given an opportunity to be heard, present evidence, or examine any witness appearing in support of the charge. The accused member shall not vote on the question of his/her removal.
(Amended 11-4-1980; 11-7-2000)