Section 26. Meetings; President of Council.

   At 7:00 pm on the first Monday in January following a regular Municipal election, or on the succeeding day if the first Monday is a legal holiday, Council shall meet at the usual place of holding its meetings, and Council shall elect one of its members President, who shall preside at meetings of the Council and perform such duties as presiding officer as may be imposed by Council. In the absence of the President at any meeting, Council shall elect a President Pro Tempore. Thereafter, Council shall meet at such times as may be prescribed by ordinance or resolution, but shall meet at least twice a month, except that Council may designate one month in the summer season for vacation.

   The Mayor, President of Council, or any four members thereof, may call special meetings of Council upon written notice provided at least six hours in advance of the special meeting. Written notice may be provided electronically via email or similar electronic means commonly used for Council notifications provided the member acknowledges receipt or delivered personally to the member, or left at the member's place of residence. Any request for a special meeting and the notice calling the same shall state the subjects to be considered, and such meeting shall be limited to a consideration of such subjects.

(Amended November 2, 2021)

Section 27. Quorum; Rules; Journal; Public Meetings.

   A majority of all the members elected to Council shall constitute a quorum to transact business, but a lesser number may adjourn from day to day and compel the attendance of absent members in such manner, and under such penalty as may be prescribed by ordinance. The Council shall determine its own rules and order of business and shall keep a journal of its proceedings. All meetings of a public body shall be public meetings open to the public, except Council may provide by ordinance for private deliberations and or executive sessions of a public body for the discussion of matters declared in such ordinance to require and or permit confidentiality. No action of a public body is valid unless adopted in a public meeting. Council may provide by ordinance for notification of meetings to the news media. Any citizen shall have access to the records of a public body in the manner and to the extent provided by the general laws of Ohio. The term "public body" as used in this Section 27 means Council, any committee of Council or any board or commission of the City established by the Charter or by Council.

(Amended Nov. 8, 2011)

Section 28. Officers and Employees; Clerk.

   Council shall choose such officers and employees of its own body as are necessary, providing that the Auditor shall be its Clerk. The Clerk shall keep the records of Council, and perform such other duties as may be required by ordinance or resolution. Except the Clerk, all officers and employees chosen by Council shall serve during its pleasure.

Section 29. General Powers.

   Council shall have authority to provide by ordinance or resolution for carrying into effect any and all powers conferred upon municipalities or the inhabitants thereof by the Home Rule provisions of the Constitution, and the method thereof, except where this Charter prescribes that method; and Council shall perform the duties imposed and exercise the powers conferred upon councils of cities by the general laws of the State not in conflict with this Charter or the ordinances and resolutions of Council.

Section 30. Enactment of Ordinances and Resolutions.

   Each proposed ordinance or resolution shall be introduced in written or printed form and shall be read by title only, provided Council may require any reading to be in full by a majority vote of its members then in office. Each ordinance or resolution shall be passed, except as otherwise required by law, by a vote of at least a majority of the members of Council then in office, excluding abstentions. The vote on the passage of each ordinance or resolution shall be taken by yeas and nays and entered in the minutes. An ordinance or resolution shall be read on three different days, provided that Council may dispense with the requirement by a vote of at least three-fourths of its members then in office, excluding abstentions. At the meeting at which a vote of Council shall be taken on any ordinance or resolution, Council shall provide an opportunity for public comment thereon before the vote is called. The Mayor shall have the veto power over ordinances and resolutions subject to limitations and provisions of the statutes of the State of Ohio relating to such powers. Actions by Council, not required by law to be by ordinance or resolution, including, without limitation, procedural matters and elections among and appointments made or confirmed by Council, may be taken by motion on a voice vote approved by at least a majority of the members of Council present at a duly called meeting at which a quorum is present. Council shall by ordinance provide for the publication of the subject matter of all introduced and enacted legislation, provided that the failure to publish such information shall not invalidate any action of Council.

(Amended Nov. 6, 2007)

Section 31. Fiscal Matter; Operating Budget.

   The laws of the State of Ohio relating generally to budgets, appropriations, taxation, debts, bonds, assessments, deposit and investment of funds and other fiscal matters of the City shall be applicable, except as otherwise provided by this Charter or by ordinance of Council. The fiscal year of the City shall begin on the first day of January. The Mayor and Auditor shall prepare and submit to Council an operating budget in accordance with an annual budget calendar authorized by Council. The operating budget shall provide a complete financial plan of City funds and activities for the ensuing fiscal year which, except to the extent required by law or this Charter, shall be in a form acceptable to Council. Council shall adopt an operating budget for the ensuing fiscal year on or before December 31 of each year. To implement the operating budget as adopted, the Council shall, on or before December 31, also adopt an appropriation ordinance authorizing an appropriation for each program or activity by department or major organizational unit.

(Amended Nov. 6, 2001)

Section 32. Limitations on Appropriations.

   No money shall be drawn from the Treasury of the City, nor shall any obligation for the expenditure of money be incurred, except pursuant to appropriation made by Council. At the end of each fiscal year all unexpended balances of appropriations not covered by outstanding contracts shall revert to the respective funds from which the same then be subject to future appropriations. Appropriations may be encumbered in furtherance of capital improvements of the City which will not be completed within the current year.

(Amended Nov. 6, 1990)

Section 33. Limitations on Expenditures.

   The Mayor and Auditor shall supervise all departmental expenditures and shall keep such expenditures within the appropriation. Moneys appropriated as above provided shall not be used for other purposes than those designated in the appropriation ordinance, and all expenditures within the fiscal year shall be made within the appropriations hereinbefore provided for. Council may, however, at any time by resolution with the approval of the Mayor and Auditor, transfer money so appropriated for the use of one department, division or purpose, to any other department, division or purpose; but no such transfer shall be made of money derived from the sale of bonds, or of revenue or earnings of any non-tax supported utility. Any accruing revenue of the City not appropriated as hereinbefore provided may from time to time be appropriated by the Council to such authorized uses as it may by ordinance determine.