It is the duty of municipal employees to answer questions submitted to them by respectfully constituted authority that may reflect upon the employees’ fitness for municipal office or employment. If any City officer or employee, after reasonable notice and an opportunity to answer, is called upon or requested to give testimony or to produce evidence upon relevant matters pertaining to his/her office or position in connection with any lawful or constitutional inquiry conducted by the Council, the Ventura County Grand Jury, and State or federal legislative committee, or the Attorney General of the State, such officer shall, to the best of his/her ability, answer such inquiries or shall submit a statement of his/her reasons for refusal thereof to the Council for its consideration. The Council, where permitted by law, shall thereafter inform such officer or employee whether or not such officer or employee is required, as a condition of continued employment, to answer such questions and the officer or employee continues to refuse to answer the questions thus propounded, such officer or employee shall resign immediately on the request of the Council or shall forfeit his/her position at the suit of the City. Nothing in this provision shall be construed to impair a constitutional or civil right.
(§ 1, Ord. 868-NS, eff. September 18, 1984)