§ 5.15. Removal of officers.

(a)

The mayor, councilmembers, or other appointed officers provided for in this charter shall be removed from office for any one or more of the following causes:

(1)

Incompetence, misfeasance, or malfeasance in office;

(2)

Conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude;

(3)

Failure at any time to possess any qualifications of office as provided by this charter or by law;

(4)

Knowingly violating any express prohibition of this charter;

(5)

Abandonment of office or neglect to perform the duties thereof; or

(6)

Failure for any other cause to perform the duties of office as required by this charter or by state law.

(b)

Removal of an officer pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be accomplished by the vote of three councilmembers after an investigative hearing. In the event an elected officer is sought to be removed by the action of the city council, such officer shall be entitled to a written notice specifying the ground or grounds for removal and to a public hearing which shall be held not less than ten days after the service of such written notice. Any elected officer sought to be removed from office as provided in this section shall have the right of appeal from the decision.