The city 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 city 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. The city 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 the court shall, upon good cause shown, cause a subpoena
to be issued. Any person refusing to obey the issuance of the subpoena, as directed
by the judge of the circuit court, upon failure to give satisfactory excuse to the
judge, may be fined not exceeding the sum of $100 or imprisoned not exceeding 30 days
or both, such person to have the right of appeal, as in cases of misdemeanor, to the
circuit court of the city. Witnesses may be sworn by the officer presiding at investigations
conducted by the city council and shall be liable to prosecution for perjury for any
false testimony given at such investigations. (Code 1963, Sec. 2-27)
