If the committee, or any three members thereof, shall find that any charge made as aforesaid is well founded, it shall in its report so state in specific form, and, in such case, the court shall cause a certified copy of the whole record, with the specifications of the charges against the accused, to be transmitted to the council, which shall be assembled within ten days thereafter, in special and open session, as a court of impeachment, and the members shall be severally sworn to try and decide the same according to the evidence. A copy of the specifications shall be served on the accused, or left at his last place of residence, at least five days before the commencement of the trial, and he shall be entitled to be heard thereon in person or by counsel and to produce evidence in his defense, and the prosecution before the council shall be conducted by the committee or by counsel appointed by it. The compensation of counsel and the cost of investigation and prosecution by the committee shall be provided for by ordinance.
53 P.S. § 12203