(a) Executive Powers. The Mayor shall be the chief executive officer of the municipality. He shall (1) supervise the administration of the municipality's affairs; (2) exercise control over all committees, boards and departments thereof, except Council; (3) be the chief conservator of the peace within the municipality and cause all laws and ordinances to be enforced therein; (4) see that all terms and conditions imposed in favor of the municipality or its inhabitants in any franchise or contract to which the municipality is a party are faithfully kept and performed; (5) recommend to Council such measures as he deems necessary or expedient for the welfare of the municipality and keep Council advised of the condition and future of the municipality; (6) act as the official and ceremonial head of the municipal government; (7) execute on behalf of the municipality, together with the Clerk or Finance Director, all contracts, conveyances, evidences of indebtedness and all other instruments to which the municipality is a party; (8) have custody of the seal of the municipality and may affix it to all of the aforesaid documents, but the absence of the seal shall not affect the validity of any such instrument; and (9) perform such other duties as are conferred or required by this Charter, or by any ordinance or resolution of the Council or by the laws of the State of Ohio.
(b) Powers Re Officers and Employees. The Mayor shall have the power to appoint and promote, subject to such confirmation as may be required by this Charter or by ordinance of Council pursuant thereto, any officer or employee of the municipality, except those required by this Charter to be elected. Except for the authority provided to the Chief of Police, set forth below, the Mayor shall have the power to discipline, suspend, transfer, reduce in rank or discharge from employment any such officer or employee in the manner set forth herein:
(1) (A) With respect to Village Police Officers, the Chief of Police or the Chief's designee shall have the power to reprimand an officer, verbally or in writing, or suspend an officer for up to three days for any violation of the Police Department's Standards of Conduct or other applicable regulations, but shall immediately report to the Mayor the basis of any such suspension. The Mayor shall not be required to investigate the cause for such suspension, but may consider modifying the suspension, or imposing such additional discipline as he may deem necessary, pursuant to part (ii) hereof. The Chief of Police shall advise such officer of the basis of the suspension, and give the officer the opportunity to be heard prior to the imposition of such suspension.
(B) With respect to the Chief of Police and all other police officers, the Mayor shall have the power to discipline, suspend for a period not to exceed sixty days during any calendar year, transfer or reduce in rank any such officer. However, if such officer so requests in writing within ten days thereafter, such reduction in rank shall take effect only after being confirmed by four members of Council at the meeting of Council next following the expiration of such ten day period, which meeting may be attended by such officer. Neither the Chief of Police nor any police officer who has received his final appointment shall be suspended for a period in excess of sixty days during any calendar year or discharged from employment in the Police Department, except for the causes and under the procedures provided by the laws of the State of Ohio with respect to the removal of a police chief or police officer.
(2) With respect to all other officers and employees of the municipality, the Mayor shall have the power to discipline, suspend, transfer, reduce in rank, or discharge from employment any such officer or employee. However, if such officer or employee so requests in writing within ten days thereafter, such discharge from employment shall take effect only after being confirmed by four members of Council at the meeting of Council next following the expiration of such ten-day period, which meeting may be attended by such officer or employee.
(3) All actions taken pursuant to the foregoing subparagraphs (1) and (2) shall be final and conclusive, and no reason, notice, written charge or public hearing shall be required, except as otherwise provided by laws governing the discharge of police officers pursuant to Section (1)(B) hereof.
(c) Legislative Powers. The Mayor shall be President of Council and preside at all Council meetings but shall have no vote therein except in case of a tie. He shall have the right to recommend and introduce legislation and to take part in the discussion of all matters coming before Council. Every ordinance or resolution adopted by Council shall be signed by the President of Council or other presiding officer and attested by the Clerk. The votes shall be taken by yeas and nays and entered upon the journal.
(d) Judicial Powers. The Mayor shall have all the judicial powers granted from time to time by the general laws of the State of Ohio to mayors of municipalities of the class of this municipality.
(Amended November 2, 2010)
(Amended November 2, 2010)