Council may expel or remove any of its own members, and any member of a board or commission of the City for violation of their oath of office, neglect of duty, incompetency, failure to maintain qualification for office, or malfeasance, nonfeasance, or misfeasance in office. Council, board, or commission members may also be removed for persistent failure to abide by the adopted rules of Council, or of the applicable board or commission, or for absence without justifiable excuse from three (3) consecutive regular meetings of Council, or of the applicable board or commission. Any member of Council, or board or commission member shall be removed if convicted of a felony or other crime involving moral turpitude. Removal shall take place only after opportunity has been given for a public hearing before Council, to be held no sooner than ten (10) working days after written charges and notice thereof have been given to the accused member. Such charges must allege by affidavit the specific cause and specific act constituting grounds for removal. The accused member shall be heard in person or with counsel, and shall be permitted to present evidence and examine witnesses. Council shall conduct a hearing no later than 30 days after written charges and notice have been served and shall render a decision no later than 30 days after the hearing. The accused member shall remain in office with all authority until Council renders a decision. Expulsion or removal of a Councilmember under this section shall be upon concurrence of five (5) or more members of Council, and such action shall be final. Board of Commission members shall be removed by vote of five (5) or more council members and such action shall be final. Thereupon, the office of any such removed or expelled member shall be vacant and filled as provided in this Charter.
(Amended November 7, 2000; November 6, 2018)