(a) The mayor shall be the chief executive officer of the City. He or she shall supervise the administration of the City's affairs and shall exercise control over all departments and divisions. The mayor may, however, introduce ordinances and resolutions and take part in the discussion of all matters coming before Council. He or she shall be the chief conservator of the peace within the City and shall cause all laws and ordinances to be enforced. He or she shall be responsible for the preparation and submission of the annual estimate of receipts and expenditures, and of appropriation measures, and shall at all times keep Council fully advised as to the financial condition and needs of the City. He or she shall cause all terms and conditions imposed in favor of the City or its inhabitants in any franchise or contract to which the City is a party to be faithfully kept and performed. Subject to the other provisions of this charter and the laws of Ohio, the mayor shall have the power to appoint, promote, transfer, reduce or remove any officer or employee of the City except (a) those required by this charter to be elected, or (b) those whose terms of office are fixed by this charter.
(b) The mayor shall execute, on behalf of the City, all contracts, conveyances, evidences of indebtedness and all other instruments to which the City is a party. He or she shall have the custody of the seal of the City and may affix it to all the above-mentioned instruments, but the absence of the seal shall not affect the validity of any such instrument. The mayor shall be recognized as the official and ceremonial head of the City government by the governor for military purposes and by the courts for the purpose of serving civil processes.