The City Manager may be removed by a majority vote of the Council-elect, except that no Manager who has been in the service of the City for one (1) year or more prior to a regular City election shall be removed within four (4) months subsequent to such election, except for gross misconduct amounting to a criminal offense punishable by statute. At least thirty (30) days before removal of the Manager the Council shall adopt a resolution stating its intention to remove him or her. Upon passage of the resolution stating the Council’s intention to remove the Manager, the Council may suspend him or her from duty but his or her pay shall continue until his or her removal. The action of the Council in removing the Manager shall be final.