Any person who shall file with or report a charge of misconduct on the part of any public official or other person encompassed within the definition of this chapter, knowing such charge to be false or to have been recklessly made without any reasonable attempt to determine relevant facts and circumstances, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided in section 1-4-1. In addition, the City Administrator may request that the Hearing Examiner make a finding that a complaint brought pursuant to this Code of Ethics is frivolous and without merit. Upon such a finding, the person making such a complaint may be liable to the City for the cost of any investigation, if applicable. If the complainant is a City employee, he or she may be subject to disciplinary action as set forth in section 1-10-6 and any other action applicable to a City employee, including but not limited to, termination of employment. (Ord. 234, 12-20-2016; amd. Ord. 234A, 2-22-2021)