CHARTER
OF THE CITY OF
GARFIELD HEIGHTS, OHIO
   EDITOR'S NOTE: The Garfield Heights Charter was approved by the voters on November 6, 1956. Dates appearing in parentheses following a section heading indicates that the section was subsequently amended, enacted or repealed on the date given.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
Sec. 1. Corporate boundaries.
Sec. 2. Nominations and elections.
Sec. 3. Nominations. (11-6-12)
Sec. 4. Petitions. (11-5-57)
Sec. 5. Selection of candidates.
Sec. 6. Recall. (11-2-65)
Sec. 7. Council powers, term and vacancy. (11-2-71)
Sec. 8. Division of City into seven wards. (11-6-18)
Sec. 9. Qualifications of members of the Council. (11-3-87)
Sec. 10. Meetings of Council and attendance. (11-3-92)
Sec. 11. Rules of Council. (11-3-92)
Sec. 12. President of Council (11-3-09)
Sec. 13. President Pro Tem. (11-6-18)
Sec. 14. Clerk of Council.
Sec. 15. Legislative procedure. (11-3-70)
Sec. 16. Duties of Council.
Sec. 17. Revision and codification of ordinances.
Sec. 18. Effective date of ordinances and resolutions.
Sec. 19. Mayor's veto.
Sec. 20. Salaries and bonds. (11-2-76)
Sec. 21. Limitation on the rate of taxation. (11-6-01)
Sec. 22. Exception to tax limitation.
Sec. 22A. Sewer Fund and Street Fund established. (11-3-87)
Sec. 23. Mayor's estimate.
Sec. 24. Appropriation ordinance.
Sec. 25. Payment of claims.
Sec. 26. Custody and deposit of funds.
Sec. 27. Certification of expenditures.
Sec. 28. Public bidding. (11-2-99)
Sec. 29. Initiative.
Sec. 30. Referendum.
 
THE MAYOR
 
Sec. 31. Executive and administrative powers.
Sec. 32. Term and qualifications of Mayor. (11-3-87; 11-6-18)
Sec. 33. General powers and duties of Mayor. (11-6-79)
Sec. 34. Mayor's right in Council.
Sec. 35. Vacancy in the office of Mayor. (11-3-98)
 
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS AND DEPARTMENTS
 
Sec. 36. General provisions. (11-2-76)
Sec. 37. Department of Law.
Sec. 38. Department of Finance.
Sec. 39. Division of Purchases and Supplies.
Sec. 40. Revolving Equipment Fund.
Sec. 41. Department of Public Safety. (11-3-92; 11-4-14; 11-2-21)
Sec. 42. The Department of Public Service and Properties.
Sec. 43. Department of Public Relief and Welfare.
 
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
 
Sec. 44. Board of Control. (11-3-92)
Sec. 45. City Planning Commission.
Sec. 46. Board of Zoning Appeals. (11-3-70)
Sec. 47. Recreation Board.
Sec. 48. Civil Service Commission.
Sec. 49. Removal of members of Boards and Commissions.
Sec. 50. Contracts and fiscal matters.
Sec. 51. Franchises.
Sec. 52. Amendments.
Sec. 53. Effective date of Charter.
Sec. 54. Savings clause.
Sec. 55. Effect of Charter upon existing laws and rights.
Sec. 56. Interpretation of the Charter.
Sec. 57. Charter Review Committee. (11-6-90)
Sec. 58. Use of land. (11-2-04)
Sec. 59. Photo-monitoring devices. (11-2-10)
 
CHARTER OF THE CITY OF GARFIELD HEIGHTS
PREAMBLE
   We, the people of the City of Garfield Heights, being grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, and being aware of our rights and duties as citizens, do, ordain, and establish this Charter in order to provide an efficient and beneficial municipal government that shall insure the full measure of self-government granted us by the Constitution and Laws of the State of Ohio, and that shall promote our common peace, safety, and welfare.