Municipal board members; suspension; removal.

(1) For the purposes of this section, the term “municipal board member” is defined as any person who is appointed or confirmed by the governing body of a municipality to be a member of a board, commission, authority, or council which is created or authorized by general law, special act, or municipal charter.

(2) By resolution specifying facts sufficient to advise a municipal board member as to the basis for his or her suspension or removal and after reasonable notice to the municipal board member and an opportunity for the member to be heard, a governing body of the municipality may:

(a) Suspend or remove from office any municipal board member for malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty, habitual drunkenness, incompetence, or permanent inability to perform his or her official duties.

(b) Suspend from office any municipal board member who is arrested for a felony or for a misdemeanor related to the duties of office or who is indicted or informed against for the commission of any federal felony or misdemeanor or state felony or misdemeanor.

(3) In addition to the authority granted under subsection (2), the governing body of a municipality may remove from office any municipal board member who is convicted of a federal felony or misdemeanor or state felony or misdemeanor. For the purposes of this subsection, any person who pleads guilty or nolo contendere or who is found guilty shall be deemed to have been convicted, notwithstanding a suspension of sentence or a withholding of adjudication.

(4) A suspended municipal board member may, at any time before his or her removal, be reinstated by the governing body of the municipality in its discretion.

(5) The suspension of a municipal board member by the governing body of a municipality creates a temporary vacancy in such office during the suspension. Any temporary vacancy in office created by the suspension of a municipal board member under the provisions of this section shall be filled by a temporary appointment to such office for the period of the suspension, not to extend beyond the term of the suspended municipal board member. Such temporary appointment shall be made in the same manner and by the same authority as provided by law for the filling of a permanent vacancy in such office. If no provision for filling a permanent vacancy in such office is provided by law, special act, or municipal charter, the temporary appointment shall be made by the governing body of the municipality.

(6) No municipal board member who has been suspended from office under this section may perform any official act, duty, or function during his or her suspension; receive any pay or allowance during his or her suspension; or be entitled to any of the emoluments or privileges of his or her office during suspension.

(7) If the municipal board member is acquitted or found not guilty or is otherwise cleared of the charges which were the basis of the arrest, indictment, or information by reason of which he or she was suspended under the provisions of this section, the governing body of the municipality shall forthwith revoke the suspension and restore such municipal board member to office; and the member shall be entitled to and be paid full back pay and other emoluments or allowances to which he or she would have been entitled for the full period of time of the suspension. If, during the suspension, the term of office of the municipal board member expires and a successor is either appointed or confirmed, such back pay, emoluments, or allowances shall only be paid for the duration of the term of office during which the municipal board member was suspended under the provisions of this section, and he or she shall not be reinstated.

(8) This section applies in the absence of a charter provision.