Loading...
After the meeting for organization, the Council shall meet at such times as may be prescribed by its rules, regulations or ordinance, but it shall hold regular meetings at least twice during each calendar month.
Special Meetings: Special meetings may be called by a vote of the Council taken at any regular or special meeting thereof, or shall be called by the Clerk upon the written request of the Mayor or President of Council or of three members of Council. Any such request shall state the time, place and date thereof and the subject or subjects to be considered at the meeting and no other subject or subjects shall be considered. Notice, of each such special meeting called, except by vote of Council, shall be given to each member of Council and the Mayor by notifying them in writing or by leaving a copy thereof at his or her usual place of residence not less than twenty-four (24) hours prior to such meeting. Public notice of such meetings must comply with the Ohio Revised Code. Service of such notice may be waived in writing and shall be deemed conclusively to be waived by attendance at such a special meeting. In the event that a special meeting is called by a vote of Council at a meeting from which the Mayor or any member of Council is absent, written notice of such special meeting shall be given each absentee in the manner hereinbefore described. (Amended November 5, 2024)
1. Each proposed ordinance or resolution shall be introduced in written or printed form and the adoption, effective date, revision or amendment and signing thereof, shall be in the manner provided by the laws of the State of Ohio except as otherwise in this Charter provided.
2. Ordinances and resolutions of a general or permanent nature, or granting a franchise, or creating a right, or involving the expenditure of money or the levying of a tax, or the purchase, lease, sale or transfer of property, shall be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the City, except that in the case of such an ordinance or resolution containing more than 1,000 words in the recitals and text thereof, it shall be sufficient to publish an abstract of the ordinance, except the annual budget of the City of Defiance which shall be published in total. If there is no newspaper of general circulation in the City, Council may prescribe some other method of publication or giving notice of ordinances and resolutions.
3. Council shall establish an Administrative Code, prescribing the manner of giving notice of all other ordinances, resolutions, orders, proclamations, reports and notices required by law or by this Charter or by ordinance to be published and any other acts or proceedings of the City which Council deems it proper to publish or give notice.
4. The Council may adopt model or standard codes prepared and published by public or private agencies on such matters as building construction, plumbing, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, electric wiring, smoke regulation, fire prevention and other similar regulatory subjects by reference to the date and source of the code without reproducing the same in full in the ordinance. In all cases in which such a code shall be adopted by reference, publication of the code, at length, by the City, shall not be required.
5. All proposed ordinances shall be reviewed and/or revised by the City Law Director before enactment of the same.
6. In all appropriation ordinances, the purpose and the amount must be stated in the ordinance.
7. All ordinances must have the following enacting clause wording ("Be it enacted by the Council of the Municipality of Defiance that... "). Resolution wording should be ("Be it resolved by the Council of Defiance that..."). (Amended November 5, 2024)
Council as a body shall have and possess the authority to:
1. Create, change and abolish additional boards and commissions not created by this Charter. Members of created boards and commissions shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of a majority of Council.
2. Advise and consent to the appointments by the Mayor of members of boards and commissions created by this Charter. A majority vote of Council shall be required to approve.
3. Adopt an Administrative Code which shall provide in detail the organization of the Municipal Government, define the powers and duties of each organizational unit and define the administrative procedures to be followed, subject to the provisions of this Charter, and after consultation with the Mayor. Amendments to and revisions of the Administrative Code shall be made by Council after consultation with the Mayor. Where the Administrative Code is silent, with such exceptions as provided by this Charter, the officers and employees of the City shall have, and may exercise, all powers and duties provided for similar officers and employees by General Law.
4. Fix the number of employees in the various departments of the City and fix the rate of their compensation and may require any officer, employee or member of any department, board or commission of the City, whether elected or appointed, to furnish a bond for the faithful performance of their duties and provide for payment by the City of the premium for such bond.
5. Employ a qualified accountant to make an audit of the financial affairs of any office or department of the City whenever such audit is deemed necessary by Council.
6. Inquire into the conduct of any office, department or agency of the City.
7. Make investigations of any office, department or agency of the City.
8. Cause subpoenas to be issued for witnesses and require the production of books and papers which may be necessary in the conduct of any hearing or investigation.
9. Refer any criminal violation within City Government to either the City or County Prosecutor for the appropriate court action.
10. Provide, by ordinance, the procedure to be adopted in all bidding in which the City of Defiance is involved.
11. Purchase, lease, sell and dispose of property.
Council shall have power to do all things necessary and proper to enforce the provisions of this Charter.