7-3-4257. Appointment of civil service commission. (1) Immediately after organizing, the council shall by ordinance appoint three civil service commissioners, who shall hold office, one until the first Monday in April of the second year, one until the first Monday in April of the fourth year, and one until the first Monday in April of the sixth year after appointment. Each succeeding council shall, as soon as practicable after organizing, appoint one commissioner for 6 years, who shall take the place of a commissioner whose term of office expires. The presiding officer of the commission for each biennial period must be the member whose term first expires. A person while on the commission may not hold or be a candidate for any office of public trust. Two of the members constitute a quorum to transact business. The commissioners must be citizens of Montana and residents of the city for more than 3 years preceding their appointment.

(2) Before entering upon the duties of office, each of the commissioners shall take and subscribe an oath, which must be filed and kept in the office of the city clerk, to support the constitution of the United States and of the state of Montana, to obey the laws, to aid in securing and maintaining an honest and efficient force free from partisan distinction or control, and to perform the duties of office to the best of the commissioner's ability.

(3) The council, by majority vote, may remove any of the commissioners during their term of office for cause and shall fill any vacancy that occurs in the commission for the unexpired term. The city council shall provide suitable rooms in which the civil service commission shall hold its meetings. The commission must have a clerk, who shall keep a record of all its meetings. The city shall supply the commission with all necessary equipment to properly attend to its business.