[Added 11-10-2002]
The Council, by resolution, may impeach or remove from office any of its members and may remove any other elective or appointive officers of the Town, including the Town Administrator for cause.
The following shall constitute cause for impeachment or removal:
(1) 
Willful violation of any provisions of the Charter or ordinances.
(2) 
Incompetency to perform the duties of office.
(3) 
Habitual, illegal or other serious substance abuse affecting the public services, public good, or otherwise creating an appearance of impropriety.
(4) 
Willful neglect of duty.
(5) 
Corrupt or willful malfeasance in office.
(6) 
Willful misconduct to the injury of the public service.
Removal proceedings may be initiated by majority vote of the Town Council or by any 5% of qualified electors of the Town as hereinafter provided. Upon the filing with the Council of a complaint in writing specifying any matter or thing made cause for removal under this Charter, which complaint shall be signed by majority of the Council or by not less than 5% of qualified electors of the Town, which said complaint, in either case, shall be verified by oath of the signers, the Council shall proceed to hear and determine the matter as herein provided.
No officer shall be removed unless he/she is first furnished with reasonable notice of the charges in writing and is allowed a hearing and due process thereon; and for such purposes the Council shall have the power to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of papers by subpoena or written order, and the Council shall compel the attendance of such witnesses and the production of such papers by subpoena or written order for such hearing as such officer may in writing request, provided that such request is materially pertinent, relevant and legally appropriate.
The Council shall hear and determine said charges within 30 days after the officer against whom the charges have been brought has been provided with notice thereof, unless said proceedings shall be adjourned for cause to a time not exceeding 30 days additional, or unless, through no fault of the Council, the charges cannot be heard and determined within the time hereinabove set forth, in which case the Council shall hear and determine the charges within the time hereinabove set forth when the cause for delay has been removed.
In the event that the charges have been filed against a member of the Council, the said member of the Council shall not be eligible to sit as a member of the Council during the hearing of said charges, and shall not be eligible to vote thereon. In the event that the charges are filed against a member of the Council by another member or members of the Council, the Councilor or Councilors filing such charges shall not be eligible to vote thereon; provided however, that where such disqualification will result in the lack of a quorum to hear said charges, then the disqualification shall be limited to the extent necessary to preserve the quorum so that said charges may be heard.
Any person refusing or neglecting to comply with the requirements of any subpoena or written order issued and served under this article shall be liable to a fine not to exceed $50 or imprisonment not to exceed 30 days, on conviction of such refusal or neglect.
Any official aggrieved by a decision of the Town Council, pursuant to this provision, may appeal the Council's decision to the Superior Court pursuant to state law.
CERTIFICATE
To the Honorable, the Town Council of the Town of Lincoln, Rhode Island:
We, the undersigned, being all the duly elected and qualified members of the Lincoln Charter Commission, hereby certify that this instrument, herewith attached, has been duly framed and adopted by said Commission as and for a Charter for the said Town of Lincoln. We submit said Charter to you for action thereon as prescribed by law.
WITNESS our hands this 2nd day of October, 1958.
Frank A. Carter, Jr., Chairperson
Henry H. Tucker, Vice Chairperson
Frances S. Olney, Secretary
Henry E. Fortier, Jr.
John E. Graham, III
George M. Kokolski
Rene C. Morin
Oliver H. J. Perry, 2nd
George C. Sparhawk