A Council vacancy shall be deemed to occur upon the presentation of a written resignation to the Mayor or the President of Council, which resignation shall be effective immediately, unless a later time is specified therein; the death of the Council member; or the removal of a Council member pursuant to this Charter or Ohio Law. When the office of a Council member holding an at-large Council position becomes vacant as set forth herein before the end of the at-large member's term of office or because the at-large member-elect fails to take office, the vacancy shall be filled by the person chosen by the residents of the City who are members of the County Central Committee of the political party by which the last occupant of the office or the at-large member-elect was nominated. When the office of a Council member holding a ward Council position becomes vacant as set forth herein before the end of the ward member's term of office or because the ward member-elect fails to take office, the vacancy shall be filled by the person chosen by the residents of the City who are members of the County Central Committee representing the ward for which the vacancy has occurred of the political party by which the last occupant of the office or the ward member-elect was nominated. In the event the former Council member or Council member-elect was an independent, Council shall make such appointment by a vote of a least six Council members. If the vacancy is not filled by within 45 days after its occurrence, Council's power to fill the vacancy shall lapse and the Mayor shall fill such vacancy by appointment immediately following the expiration of 45 days. If the vacancy in the office of the Council member occurs more than seventy (70) days before the next general election for municipal officers, a successor shall be elected at such election for the unexpired term unless such term expires within one (1) year immediately following the date of such general election. (November 5, 2002; November 6, 2007)