(a) In all cases of removal or discharge from the classified service the appointing authority shall furnish such employee in writing a statement as to the reason for such removal or discharge and give such employee twenty-four hours to file an explanation in writing. Such statement of the appointing authority, together with the written explanation of the employee, if any, shall be filed with the Commission forthwith.
(b) Any such employee so removed may appeal from the decision of such appointing authority to the Civil Service Commission, within ten days from and after the date of such removal, in which event the Commission shall forthwith notify the appointing authority and hear such appeal within thirty days from and after its filing with the Commission. The Commission may affirm, disaffirm or modify the judgment of the appointing authority.
(c) However, nothing contained herein shall be construed to prevent the abolition by ordinance of Council of any office or position or the reduction of the number of employees in any department. Whenever Council orders such abolition or reduction the appointing authority may summarily remove the employee in the position so abolished or remove such number of employees in the inverse order of their appointment as may be necessary to accomplish such reduction. Upon removal for the purposes of reduction as aforesaid the names of the persons shall be placed by the Commission at the head of the eligibility list for such position without examination and shall be certified to the appointing authority to fill any subsequent vacancy therein.
(d) All appointments or promotions shall not be deemed complete until the expiration of a probationary period of six months except for employees of the Police and Fire Departments for whom the probationary period shall be one year. A probationer may be discharged or reduced at any time within the probationary period by the appointing authority without reference to the provisions of this section.
(Ord. 1972-47. Passed 7-10-72.)