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At the first regularly scheduled Council meeting in January following each Municipal election, the newly elected members of Council shall take the oath of office, the Council shall elect a Mayor and a Vice Mayor and the Council shall transact such other business as may come before it. Thereafter, regular meetings shall be held as prescribed by Council rules, but not less frequently than once a month. Within thirty (30) days of the initial meeting, Council shall adopt by resolution written rules to govern its proceedings for the coming two year period.
All Council meetings where a quorum is present and where official business is conducted, including special meetings of Council, shall be open to the public at all times except in cases where executive sessions are permitted.
Council may hold an executive session closed to the public only after a majority of a quorum of Council determines, by roll call vote, to hold such a session and only at a regular or special meeting for the sole purpose of the consideration of any of the following matters:
(1) To consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a City employee or official, or the investigation of charges or complaints against a City employee, official, licensee or regulated individual, unless the City employee, official, licensee or regulated individual requests a public hearing.
(2) To consider the purchase of property for City purposes, or for the sale of property at competitive bidding, if premature disclosure of information would give an unfair competitive or bargaining advantage to a person whose personal, private interest is adverse to the general public interest.
(3) Conferences with the Law Director or other legal counsel representing the Municipality regarding the discussion or deliberation of legal matters involving the Municipality.
(4) Preparing for, conducting, or reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions with City employees concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of their employment.
(5) Matters required to be kept confidential by federal law or rules or State statutes.
(6) Specialized details of security arrangements where disclosure of the matters discussed might reveal information that could be used for the purpose of committing, or avoiding prosecution for, a violation of the law.
(7) Any and all other matters for which public bodies may hold executive sessions under Section 121.22 of the Ohio Revised Code.
(Amended 11-5-91)
Special meetings of Council shall be held subject to the following provisions:
(a) A special meeting shall be held in the usual place designated for regular meetings and shall be governed by the same rules and procedures as regular meetings.
(b) A special meeting may be called upon written notice by the Mayor, by three (3) members of Council or by the City Manager.
(c) The notice shall state the time and purpose of the meeting and shall be delivered in person or by certified mail to all Council members at least twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting.
(d) Council members may waive written notice of a special meeting. However, their signed waivers shall be part of the journal record of the meeting.
(e) Only the business stated in the notice may be transacted at the special meeting.
(f) Special meetings must be advertised by posting a notice of the meeting stating time and purpose of the meeting twenty-four (24) hours in advance of that meeting on at least three (3) public bulletin boards in the Municipality except in the event of an emergency requiring immediate official action. In the event of an emergency, the member or members calling the meeting shall notify the news media that have requested notification immediately of the time, place and purpose of the meeting.
(Amended 11-5-91)
The office of a Council member shall become vacant upon his death, resignation, forfeiture of his office or removal from office in any manner authorized by law or by this Charter or by Ordinance. Resignations must be made in writing and submitted to the Clerk for reading at the next regularly scheduled Council meeting and shall become effective upon the date set forth in the letter of resignation, but in no event shall the effective date of resignation be later than seven (7) days from the date of the reading of the letter of resignation. A Council member shall not be permitted to hold the office of Council member for one year after his resignation or for four years after his forfeiture of office or removal from office. (Amended 11-2-99)
A Council member shall forfeit his office and shall be removed from office if he lacks at any time during his term of office any qualification for the office prescribed by this Charter or by law; or if he violates any express prohibitions of this Charter; or if he is convicted of a felony; or if he is convicted of a misdemeanor of which theft or dishonesty is an element of the offense; or if he is convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude or malfeasance; or if he fails to attend three (3) regularly scheduled Council meetings a year without being excused by Council.
Council, in its written rules established pursuant to Section 3.05 or by Ordinance, shall establish the procedure for the enforcement of this section. (Amended 11-2-99)
A Council vacancy shall be filled within thirty (30) days by a vote of a majority of the remaining members of Council. If Council fails to fill such vacancy within thirty (30) days, the Mayor shall fill it by appointment notwithstanding Section 3.13 of this Charter. Such person appointed by the Mayor or the Council shall serve the unexpired term of the member he replaces. Until such time as a vacancy is filled, the remaining members shall constitute the full legal Council. A simple majority of the full legal Council shall constitute a quorum for the purposes of this section. If the Mayor is the person being replaced, the Vice-Mayor shall assume the position of Mayor and a new election among Council shall be held to elect the Vice-Mayor.
(Amended 11-2-99)
Salaries of Council members shall be established by ordinance. Salaries of the Council members shall not be changed during their term of office nor by any ordinance passed subsequent to the final date fixed by this Charter for filing as a candidate for such office. The Mayor and Vice-Mayor shall be entitled to receive additional compensation for presiding over Mayor’s Court.
(Amended 11-2-99)
After each Municipal election, Council shall elect from among its own members one to serve as Mayor and one as Vice Mayor, each for a two (2) year term subject, however, to the written rules of Council regarding removal of the Mayor and/or Vice Mayor.
The Mayor shall preside at Council meetings and shall have a vote on all matters which come before Council, but shall have no power of veto. He shall be the ceremonial and representative head of the Municipality, but shall exercise no administrative authority. He shall be recognized as official head of the Municipality for military purposes and by the courts for purposes of serving civil process. He shall have judicial authority and other related powers and privileges under the Constitution and laws of Ohio. The Mayor shall perform all other duties prescribed for him by ordinance or resolution of Council and not inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter.
During the absence of the Mayor or at his express direction upon approval by Council, the Vice Mayor shall have the same authority vested in the Mayor and perform all duties of the Mayor including the judicial authority and related powers and privileges granted to the Mayor under the Constitution and laws of Ohio, this Charter and any ordinances or resolutions adopted pursuant to and in accordance with this Charter including, but not limited to, the conducting of and presiding at Mayor's Court and the officiating at marriage ceremonies.
(Amended 11-5-91)
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