Sec. 4.

In event that any commissioner ceases to be a member thereof by virtue of death, removal or other cause, a new commissioner shall be appointed to fill out the unexpired term within 10 days after the vacancy occurs. The appointment shall be made by the body who in the first instance appointed the commissioner who is no longer a member of the commission. The board of supervisors may remove any commissioner for incompetency, dereliction of duty, malfeasance in office or any other good cause, which shall be stated in writing and made a part of the records of the commission. A copy of the removal shall be served on the commissioner forthwith. Once the board has removed any commissioner, the removal shall be temporary only and shall be in effect for a period of 10 days. If at the end of 10 days the commissioner fails to make answer thereto, he shall be deemed removed; otherwise the board shall file in the circuit court a petition setting forth in full the reason for the removal and praying for the confirmation by the circuit court of the action of the board in removing the commissioner. A copy of the petition, in writing, shall be served upon the commissioner so removed simultaneously with its filing in the circuit court and shall have precedence on the docket of the court and shall be heard as soon as the removed commissioner shall demand. All rights hereby vested in the circuit court may be exercised by the judge thereof during a vacation. If no term of court is being held at the time of filing of the petition, and the judge thereof cannot be reached in the county wherein the petition was filed, the petition shall be heard at the next succeeding term of the circuit court, whether regular or special, and the commissioner so suspended shall remain suspended until a hearing is had upon the petition of the board. The court, or the judge thereof, in vacation, shall hear and decide upon the petition. The contestant against whom the decision of the court or judge thereof, in vacation, shall be rendered, shall have the right of appearing in person and by counsel and presenting his defense and to petition the supreme court for a review of the decision of the circuit court, or the judge thereof in vacation, as in chancery cases. If the board fails to file this petition in the circuit court within 10 days after the removal of the commissioner, he shall immediately resume his position as a member of the civil service commission.

History: 1966, Act 298, Imd. Eff. July 14, 1966