SECTION 17.03. RECALL.
The electors may remove from office by a recall election any elected officer of the City who has served at least six months of that officer's term. A form of petition demanding such officer's removal may be filed with the Clerk of Council, who shall note thereon the name and address of the person filing the petition and the date of that filing, and deliver to such person a receipt therefor and attach a copy thereof to said petition. That petition may be circulated in separate parts, but the separate parts shall be bound together and filed as one instrument. Each part shall contain the name and office of the person whose removal is sought and a statement in not more than 200 words of the grounds for the removal. Except as otherwise provided herein, that petition shall be signed by at least that number of qualified electors that equals at least 25 percent of the number of electors voting at the last preceding regular municipal election; provided however, that in the case of a Council member elected from a ward, signatures must be obtained from that ward and shall be signed by at least that number of qualified electors that equals at least 25 percent of the number of electors voting in that ward in the last preceding regular municipal election.
Within 10 days after that petition is filed, the Clerk of Council shall determine whether or not it meets the requirements of this section. If the Clerk finds the petition insufficient, the Clerk shall promptly certify the particulars in which the petition is defective and deliver a copy of such certificate to the person who filed the petition with the Clerk. Such person shall be allowed a period of 20 days after the date on which such delivery by the Clerk was made in which to make the petition sufficient.
If the Clerk finds the petition sufficient, the Clerk shall promptly so certify to Council, and shall deliver a copy of that certificate to the officer whose removal is sought. If that officer does not resign within five days after the day on which such delivery by the Clerk is made, the Council shall thereupon fix a day for holding a special recall election not less than 75 days after the date of such delivery.
At that recall election the question shall be placed upon the ballot: "Shall (naming the officer) be allowed to continue as (naming the office)" with provision being made on the ballot for voting affirmatively or negatively on that question. If a majority of the votes cast at the election be voted affirmatively, that officer shall remain in office. If a majority of the votes cast shall be voted negatively, that officer shall be considered as removed upon official certification of the election results, the office shall thereupon be declared vacant, and that vacancy shall be filled as provided in this Charter. The officer so removed shall not be eligible for appointment or election to the vacancy created thereby.
The manner of signing, the method of circulating, the form and requirements as to the affidavit, and the other requirements of Ohio laws pertaining to initiative and referendum petitions, shall also apply to recall petitions, except as may be otherwise provided in this Charter.
(Amended 11-4-14.)