CHARTER
FOR
THE MUNICIPALITY OF GRAFTON
LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Charter of the Municipality of Grafton, Ohio, was approved by the voters on May 2, 1967. Dates appearing in parentheses following a section heading indicate that the section was amended or enacted on the date given.

   TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREAMBLE

ARTICLE I   NAME AND BOUNDARIES

ARTICLE II   POWERS OF THE MUNICIPALITY

ARTICLE III   THE MAYOR

Section 1.   Term (Amended 11-6-90)

Section 2.   Qualifications (Amended 11-5-02)

Section 3.   Removal

Section 4.   Vacancy in the Office of Mayor

Section 5.   Duties and Powers of the Mayor (Amended 11-7-78)

ARTICLE IV   THE COUNCIL

Section 1.   Number, Term and Power (Amended 11-2-76, 11-6-84)

Section 2.   Qualifications (Amended 11-5-02)

Section 3.   President of Council

Section 4.   Duties of Council (Amended 11-6-84)

Section 5.   Removal

Section 6.   Vacancies

Section 7.   Salaries and Bonds (Amended 11-7-72, 5-8-90)

Section 8.   Meetings and Organization (Amended 11-6-90)

Section 9.   Quorum

Section 10.   Rules and Journal of Council

Section 11.   Form of Legislative Action (Amended 11-2-76, 11-7-78, 11-2-93)

Section 12.   Assessments, Advertising of Contracts and Sale of Municipal Property.

Section 13.   Effective Date of Ordinances and Resolutions

Section 14.   Enactment of Zoning Ordinances and Regulations (Amended 11-2-76)

ARTICLE V   THE CLERK-TREASURER

Section 1. Election and Term (Amended 11-6-90)

Section 2.   Duties

Section 3.   Vacancy (Enacted 11-2-76)

ARTICLE VI   MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES AND DEPARTMENTS

Section 1.   General Provisions

Section 2.   Law Director and Prosecutor (Amended 11-5-02)

Section 3.   Police Chief

Section 4.   Fire Chief

Section 5.   Building Inspector

Section 6.   Village Administrator

Section 7.   Village Engineer

Section 8.   Employment and Appointment of Municipal Personnel; Removals From Office (Amended 11-7-78)

ARTICLE VII   BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

Section 1.   Board of Zoning and Building Appeals (Amended 11-7-72, 11-8-11, 11-6-18)

Section 2.   Planning Commission (Amended 11-2-76, 11-7-78, 11-8-11)

Section 3.   Recreation Commission (Amended 11-7-78; 11-5-02, 11-8-11)

Section 4.   Sidewalk Commission (Enacted 5-2-95)

ARTICLE VIII   FINANCES

Section 1.   Fiscal Year

Section 2.   Appropriation Ordinance

Section 3.   Transfers and Balances (Amended 11-7-72, 11-8-11)

Section 4.   Payment of Claims

Section 5.   Custody and Deposit of Funds (Amended 5-2-72)

Section 6.   Public Bidding (Amended 6-2-81)

Section 7.   Limitation on Spending (Amended 11-7-72, 11-3-87, 5-3-94)

Section 8.   Public Improvements

Section 9.   Limitation on Rate of Taxation

Section 10.   Submission of Extra Levy

Section 11.   Debt Limitation (Amended 11-6-18)

Section 12.   Conflict of Interest (Amended 11-7-72)

ARTICLE IX   NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS (Amended 11-7-78, 11-8-11)

ARTICLE X   INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM, RECALL

Section 1.   Initiative (Amended 5-3-94)

Section 2.   Referendum

Section 3.   Recall (Amended 11-8-11)

Section 4.   Petitions (Amended 11-6-90)

ARTICLE XI   FRANCHISES

ARTICLE XII   GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1.   Effective Date of Charter

Section 2.   Saving Clause

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

Section 4.   Interpretation of the Charter

Section 5.   Continuance of Present Officers

Section 6.   Oath of Office

Section 7.   Disqualification; Conflict of Interest

Section 8.   Investigations

ARTICLE XIII   AMENDMENTS TO CHARTER

ARTICLE XIV   CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION

PREAMBLE

   We, the people of Grafton, in the County of Lorain and State of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for the freedom we enjoy, in order to secure for ourselves the benefits of home rule and exercise all the powers of local self-government, do adopt this Charter for our Municipality.

ARTICLE I NAME AND BOUNDARIES

   The municipal corporation now existing and known as the Municipality of Grafton, Ohio, hereafter in this Charter called the "Municipality," shall continue to be a body politic and corporate under the same name and with the same boundaries, with power and authority to change the boundaries and annex other territory contiguous thereto in the manner authorized by the general laws of the State of Ohio, except that no territory shall be detached therefrom, nor shall the Municipality be annexed to any other municipality, without the consent of Council and a majority of its electors voting on such question at a general election held and conducted in the manner provided by law.

ARTICLE II POWERS OF THE MUNICIPALITY

   The Municipality shall have all powers of local self-government now and hereafter granted to municipalities by the Constitution of the State of Ohio, and such further powers as are now or hereafter granted by the laws of the State of Ohio, and all such powers shall be exercised in the manner prescribed by this Charter or by ordinances of Council created hereby. Enumeration of or reference to particular powers by this Charter shall not be construed to be exclusive.