Montana Title 7. Local Government § 7-32-109. Hearing procedure for employee discharged by elected director

(1) A director who is elected shall at the time of the discharge or termination of employment of any subordinate employee be required to follow the procedures of notice required of an appointed director.

(2) Any employee discharged or terminated by an elected director is entitled to a hearing before the public safety commission in the manner provided in 7-32-108.

(3) The public safety commission shall, after the conclusion of the hearing, decide whether the charges resulting in the employee's discharge or termination have been proven.

(4) The commission may request that the elected director reinstate an employee in all cases wherein a majority of the commission members find the charges not proven. The director may deny such a request for reinstatement but shall provide the commission with a written statement, subscribed and sworn to by the director, setting forth the reason or reasons for the refusal to reinstate the discharged or terminated employee. Such written statement shall become a part of the records of the proceedings of the commission and shall be open to public scrutiny.

(5) In all cases wherein the commission finds the charges not proven but the elected director refuses to reinstate the discharged or terminated employee or cases wherein a majority of the commission members find the charges proven, the employee may appeal the decision in the manner provided in 7-32-108.