Whenever the mayor or other authority lays off, suspends without pay, demotes or removes an officer or employee in the classified service who has completed a probationary period of six (6) months, the following procedure shall apply:

1. The mayor or other appointing authority shall deliver, or mail by certified mail, a written statement of the causes for the layoff, suspension, demotion or removal to the officer or employee not later than three (3) days after the effective date of the personnel action;

2. The officer or employee may appeal the action to the personnel board. The appeal must be in writing, and must be filed with the secretary or chairman of the personnel board within ten (10) days after the effective date of the layoff, suspension, demotion or removal;

3. The personnel board shall hold a public hearing on the appeal, or give an adequate opportunity therefor, as soon as practicable after an appeal has been filed;

4. The personnel board shall report in writing its findings and recommendations to the mayor, where the appellant is a subordinate of the mayor, or to the respective authority having power of removal; and

5. The mayor or other authority having power of removal shall make the final decision in writing regarding the appellant's layoff, suspension, demotion or removal; but if the personnel board finds to its satisfaction that the layoff, suspension, demotion, or removal was made for a political reason or for any reason other than the good of the service, it shall veto the layoff, suspension, demotion or removal, and the action by the mayor or other authority shall be nullified thereby.

Laws 1977, c. 256, § 11-125, eff. July 1, 1978.