The legislative powers of the Municipality, except as otherwise provided by this Charter and by the Constitution of the State of Ohio, shall be vested in a Council of seven members. All of such members shall be elected from the Municipality at large. All members of Council shall be elected for overlapping terms of four years, except that the membership of the first Council under this Charter shall be determined in the following manner:
A. The two persons holding the offices of member of legislative authority and the person holding the office of mayor under the general statutory form of government whose terms would expire December 31, 1971 if this Charter had not been adopted shall be members of Council under this Charter with all the powers, duties and functions prescribed by this Charter until November 30, 1971 at which time their tenure in office shall expire and terminate.
B. The four persons who are elected as members of the legislative authority under the general statutory form of government at the election to be held in November, 1969 shall be members of Council under this Charter with all the powers, duties and functions prescribed by this Charter until November 30, 1973 at which time their tenure in office shall expire and terminate.
At the November election to be held in 1971, and each four years thereafter, three members of the Council shall be elected. At the November election to be held in 1973, and each four years thereafter, four members of the Council shall be elected.
Members of Council shall take office December 1 of the same year of their election and shall serve until the expiration of their term of office and until their successors are elected and qualified. If for any reason a member of Council shall fail to qualify for office within forty-five days after December 1, of the same year of his election, a vacancy shall be deemed to exist and such vacancy shall be filled in the manner provided in Section 3.11 of this Charter.