3.10. Council Vacancies.

   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)

3.11. Reapportionment of Wards.

   All matters pertaining to voting districts within the Municipality, including their designations, apportionment and reapportionment, shall be governed by the general laws of Ohio, except that there shall be seven wards for the purpose of electing ward Council members.

3.12. Open Meetings; Public Records.

   (A)   All Council meetings shall be open to the public, except as allowed by the laws of the State of Ohio.

   (B)   Public records and their availability for inspection and copying by the public shall be governed by the general laws of Ohio.

ARTICLE IV LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE

4.01. Action to be Taken by Ordinance or Resolution.

   Action of Council shall be by ordinance, resolution or motion. Motions shall be used to conduct the business of the Council, in procedural matters, for elections conducted among Council members, and as otherwise provided in this Charter. Every action of a general and permanent nature and as otherwise provided in this Charter or by Council shall be taken by ordinance, in the manner hereinafter provided. All other action may be taken by resolution. No Council action shall be invalidated merely because the form of the action does not comply with the provisions of this section, if it is otherwise valid.

4.02. Introduction of Ordinances and Resolutions.

   (A)   Any Council member, the President of Council or the Mayor may, at a regular or special meeting, introduce any ordinance or resolution. Such ordinance or resolution shall be in written or printed form and shall contain a concise title. Any ordinance or resolution introduced by the Mayor shall be either passed, with or without amendments, or rejected by Council within 90 days after it is introduced. The Mayor shall not be entitled to vote on any matter before Council.

   (B)   The form and style of ordinances and resolutions shall be determined by Council rules.

   (C)   All business for transaction by Council must be delivered to the Clerk's office no later than 4:00 p.m. on the fifth day preceding a regular Council meeting. A copy of the agenda and accompanying legislation shall be available to each Council member and the general public by 4:00 p.m. four days preceding a regular Council meeting.

4.03. Subject of Ordinances and Resolutions.

   Each ordinance or resolution shall contain only one subject which shall be expressed in its title, provided, however, that appropriation ordinances may contain the various subjects, accounts and amounts for which moneys are appropriated, and that ordinances and resolutions which are codified or recodified are not subject to the limitation of containing one subject.