All legislative power of the Municipality shall be vested in the Council, except as otherwise provided by this Charter and the Constitution of the State of Ohio. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Council shall have and possess the following powers:
A. The power to levy taxes and incur debts subject to the limitation imposed thereon by this Charter and the Constitution of the State of Ohio.
B. The power to adopt and to provide for the enforcement of such local police, sanitary, and other similar regulations as are not in conflict with general laws.
C. The power to provide for the exercise of all powers of local self-government granted to the Municipality by the Constitution of the State of Ohio, in a manner consistent with this Charter or the Constitution of the State of Ohio.
D. The power to establish the number of employees and officers in the various offices, departments, divisions, bureaus, boards, and commissions of the Municipality and to fix the rate of their compensation, hours of work, and to provide such fringe benefits as may be deemed proper by the Council.
E. The power to require such bonds as in the opinion of the Council are necessary for the faithful discharge of the duties of the officers and employees of the Municipality.
F. The power to create other offices, departments, divisions, bureaus, boards and commissions; and the power to combine, change and abolish any office, department, division, bureau, board, or commission. The Council shall not abolish the offices of Manager, Mayor-President of Council, Clerk of Council, Council members, or Law Director. The Manager may hold such other offices and positions with the Municipality as are provided by this Charter or as the Council may authorize by a vote of a majority of its members.
G. The power, by Ordinance, to control the development or use of land within the corporate limits and regulate construction thereon, except Council shall not have the power to amend any of the provisions of the Greenhills Zoning Code with respect to the Greenbelt District, Council shall not have the power to vacate the public use of the Commons area and Council shall not have the power to permit any change of use of the golf course, unless it is to be set aside as a park or for walking trails or nature preserve, without submission to and approval of a majority of, the electorate. (Non-use shall not constitute a change.)
H. To provide, without competitive bidding, for an annual or special independent audit of any or all municipal funds. Such audit may be in addition to such audit by representatives of the State Auditor or other state official or agency as may be determined to be required under the Constitution of the State of Ohio.
I. The power to acquire title to or interest in real and personal property shall be vested in the Council, whether such property is acquired by the exercise of power of eminent domain, purchase, gift, lease, lease with option to purchase, devise, bequest, in trust, or otherwise. The power to sell or otherwise convey, lease, lease with option to purchase, or grant interests in real property shall be vested in the Council. Such sale, conveyance, lease, or grant shall be in the manner as provided by the ordinance authorizing the sale, conveyance, lease, or grant. Title to all real property shall be taken in the name of the Municipality.
J. The power to adopt the annual budget and appropriation measures of the Municipality.
K. The power to appoint or approve the members of all boards and commissions created by the Charter or by enactments of the Council as provided herein.
L. The power to accept gifts and grants to and on behalf of the Municipality.
M. The power to inquire into the conduct of any officers, employee, agent, or independent contractor in the exercise of their powers, duties, or functions, or in their performance of work or service or provision of equipment, materials, or supplies to or on behalf of the Municipality; and to inquire into and investigate any and all municipal affairs. In the exercise of this power, the Council shall have the power to subpoena witnesses and require the production of records and other evidence in the manner provided in the rules, regulations, or by-laws of Council; and in the absence of such provisions, the Mayor-President of Council shall have the power to issue subpoenas for witnesses and the production of records and other evidence.
N. The power to exercise or provide for the exercise of all other powers granted to legislative authorities of municipalities by the Constitution of the State of Ohio, and to exercise all other powers granted to the Council by and under this Charter.
O. The power to select and to remove the Law Director.
(Amended 11-5-13.)