A city official subject to a complaint shall work cooperatively with the city clerk to establish a hearing date and shall appear at the place and time set for the hearing, regardless of that city official’s intentions concerning defense or exercise of other rights. Failure to appear, except when failure results from a serious condition or event that prevents the appearance of that city official, is a breach of that city official’s duties under this chapter and in itself may result in a summary finding of violation by the hearing officer and imposition of remedies, penalties and disciplinary action under this chapter. For the purposes of this section, a “serious condition or event” may include a medical condition, a family emergency requiring the presence of the party, a death in the family, or other similar cause that prevents the city official’s attendance at the hearing. Nothing in this section shall prevent the rescheduling of a hearing for cause upon request of the person filing the complaint or the city official whom the complaint has been filed against. (Ord. 22-13(AM) § 3, 2022)