ARTICLE XIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. Effective Date of Charter.

   For the purpose of electing officers and holding and conducting Municipal elections, this Charter shall take effect from the time of its approval by the electors of the Municipality, but for all other purposes it shall take effect on the first day of January in the year 1962.

Section 2. Saving Clause.

   The determination that any part of this Charter is invalid shall not invalidate or impair the force or effect of any other part hereof, except that such other part is wholly dependent for its operation upon the part declared invalid.

Section 3. Effect of the Charter Upon Existing Laws and Rights.

   The adoption of this Charter shall not affect any pre-existing rights of the Municipality, or any right or liability or pending suit or prosecution, either on behalf of or against the Municipality or any officer thereof, nor any franchise granted by the Municipality, nor pending proceedings for the authorization of public improvements or the levy of assessments therefor. Except as a contrary intent appears herein, all acts of the Council of the Municipality shall continue in effect until lawfully amended or repealed.

Section 4. Interpretation of the Charter.

   The article and section headings herein have been inserted for convenient reference, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of, or otherwise affect, any provision of this Charter.

Section 5. Continuance of Present Officers.

   All persons who are appointees, employees or non-elected officials of the Municipality shall continue in office and in the performance of their duties until provisions shall have been made otherwise in accordance with the provisions of this Charter. When such provisions shall have been made, the term of any such appointee, employee or non-elected official shall expire.

   The powers which are conferred, and the duties which are imposed upon any appointee, employee or non-elected official, commission, board or department of the Municipality under the laws of the State of Ohio, shall, if such office or department is abolished by this Charter, be thereafter exercised and discharged by the officers, board or department upon whom are imposed corresponding functions, powers and duties hereunder.

Section 6. Oath of Office.

   Every elected official or officer of the Municipality shall, before entering upon the duties of such official's or officer's office, take an oath, or affirm, that such official or officer will, in all respects, faithfully discharge the duties of such official's or officer's office, that such official or officer will profess loyalty to the Constitution of the United States of America and to the Constitution of the State of Ohio, and that such official or officer will uphold this Charter and all of the laws of this Municipality.

(Amended 11-7-95)