16.05. Retirement System.

   The laws of the State of Ohio relative to the retirement of officers and employees of the City shall be applicable under this Charter and the retirement of officers and employees of the City shall be governed by the laws of the State of Ohio, except as otherwise provided by or under this Charter.

16.06. Effect of Partial Invalidity.

   A determination that any article, section, subsection, or part of any article, section, or subsection of this Charter is invalid shall not invalidate or impair the force or effect of any other part thereof, except to the extent that such other part is wholly dependent for its operation upon the part declared invalid.

16.07. Conflict of Interest.

   The laws of the State of Ohio pertaining to interests of municipal officials in contracts and the expenditures of money on behalf of the City shall apply to the officials of the City.

ARTICLE XVII TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

17.01. Effective Date of Charter.

   This Charter shall be submitted to the electors of the City at the regular election to be held November 4, 1997, and if approved by the electors shall take effect on the first day of January in the year nineteen hundred ninety-eight (January 1, 1998).

17.02. Continuance of Present Officials; Abolishment of Offices.

   Except as otherwise provided by this Charter, all persons holding office at the time this Charter takes effect shall continue in office and in the performance of their duties until provisions shall have been otherwise made in accordance with this Charter for the performance or discontinuance of any such office. When such provisions shall have been made, the term of any officer shall expire and the office shall be abolished. The powers which are conferred and the duties which are imposed upon any officer, body, commission, board, department or division of the City under the laws of the State, or under any municipal ordinance, resolution or contract in force at the time of the taking effect of this Charter shall, if such office, body, commission, board, department or division is abolished by this Charter, be thereafter exercised and discharged by the officer, body, commission, board, department or division upon whom are imposed corresponding functions, powers and duties by this Charter or by any ordinance or resolution of the Council thereafter enacted.

17.03. Continuance of Present Employees.

   Every employee of the municipal government on December 31, 1997, shall continue in such employment and thereafter be subject in all respects to the provisions of this Charter and ordinances, resolutions, rules or regulations enacted or promulgated thereunder.