(A) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (B) or (C) below, the legislative power of each municipality shall be vested in, and exercised by, a legislative authority, composed of six members, who shall be elected by the electors of the municipality at large, for terms of four years.
(B) The legislative authority may adopt an ordinance or resolution that, if approved by a majority of the electors voting on the issue, would reduce the number of members of the legislative authority to five. A certified copy of the ordinance or resolution shall be filed with the Board of Elections no later than 4:00 p.m. of the ninetieth day before the day of the next election at which members of the legislative authority are to be elected.
(C) The electors may propose a reduction in the number of members of the legislative authority from six to five by initiative petition in accordance with the procedure set forth in R.C. § 731.28.
(D) (1) If a majority of the votes cast on the question proposed under divisions (B) or (C) above is in the affirmative, the legislative authority shall be composed of five members, who shall be elected at large, for terms of four years.
(2) If members of the legislative authority have staggered terms of office as required by this section, the decrease in number of members shall be implemented as necessary over the next two municipal elections at which members of the legislative authority would be elected.
(3) If the legislative authority has adopted an ordinance or resolution to eliminate staggered terms of office under division (E) below, the five members shall be elected as set forth in division (E)(2)(b) below.
(R.C. § 731.09)
(E) (1) The legislative authority may, by the adoption of an ordinance or resolution to eliminate staggered terms of office, determine that all members of the legislative authority shall be elected at the same municipal election as provided for in this section.
(2) At the regular municipal election occurring not less than 90 days after the certification of the ordinance or resolution to the Board of Elections eliminating staggered terms of office, the following apply.
(a) If there are six members of the legislative authority, the number of members eligible for election at that regular municipal election shall be elected to two-year non-staggered terms, and all members of the legislative authority shall be elected to four-year non-staggered terms at all following municipal elections.
(b) If there are five members of the legislative authority, a number of members that is one less than the number of members that would otherwise be eligible for election at that regular municipal election but for the first-time implementation of the new membership of five, or, in the case of a village that has previously reduced its number of members to five, then the number of members eligible for election at that regular municipal election shall be elected to two-year non-staggered terms, and all members shall be elected to four-year non-staggered terms at all following municipal elections.
(R.C. § 731.091)
(2000 Code, § 32.01)