§ 3.17. Power of investigation.

The council shall have power to investigate any or all of the departments, boards, commissions, offices and agencies of the city government, and any officer or employee of the city. The council, in an investigation or hearing held by it, may order the attendance of any person as a witness and the production by any person of all relevant books and papers. Council shall have the power to apply to the judge of the circuit court for a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum against any person refusing to appear and testify or who refuses to produce books and papers as ordered by the council, and the judge of said court shall, upon good cause shown, cause said subpoena to be issued. Any person refusing to obey the issuance of said subpoena as directed by the judge of the circuit court, upon failure to give satisfactory excuse to said judge may be fined not exceeding the sum of one hundred dollars or imprisoned not exceeding thirty days or both, such person to have the right of appeal, as in cases of misdemeanor, to the circuit court of Alexandria. Witnesses may be sworn by the officer presiding at investigations conducted by the council and shall be liable to prosecution for perjury for any false testimony given at such investigations. (H.B. 1682ER, § 1, 7-1-2015)