(a) NUMBER.
The legislative powers of the Municipality, except as the same are reserved to the people by this Charter and by the Constitution of the State of Ohio, shall be vested in and exercised by a Council composed of seven (7) members, one (1) President of Council elected by the City at large and six (6) Councilpersons, one (1) Councilperson representing each ward, which wards are to be established as hereinafter provided. (11-7-78)
(b) QUALIFICATIONS.
Candidates for Council shall have resided in the Municipality and have been an elector thereof for a period of at least two (2) years next preceding his or her election. Each ward Councilmember must have lived in his or her ward at least one (1) year prior to election and must continue to live in the ward he or she represents during his or her entire term of office. No member of Council, except as hereinafter provided in this Charter, shall hold any other elected public office or be employed by the Municipality, except that of notary public or member of the State Militia, or Reserve Corps of the United States, or be directly or indirectly involved in the disbursement of public moneys of North Royalton, except while performing his or her duties as Councilperson.
To the extent as provided by law, no member of Council shall directly or indirectly solicit, contract for, receive or be interested in the profits or emoluments of any contract, job, work or service with or for the Municipality. Any member who ceases to possess any of the qualifications herein set forth, or who removes from the Municipality, shall thereby forfeit his or her office. (11-5-68; 11-4-97)
(c) TERM; WARDS.
Each Ward Councilperson is to serve for a term of two (2) years commencing with the November election of 1979 and every two (2) years thereafter. No person elected Ward Councilperson shall hold the office for a period longer than six (6) consecutive terms or more than twelve (12) consecutive years, unless one (1) full term or more has elapsed since that person last held the position of Ward Councilperson.
Not later than February 28, 1979, the then incumbent Council shall by ordinance establish six (6) wards for election purposes, each of which shall be as nearly equal in population to each of the others as shall be practicable. Each ward shall be composed of contiguous and compact territory within the Municipality bounded by street lines and natural boundaries. Such equality of population shall be maintained by the Council by an adjustment of such boundaries as follows: Each four (4) years, commencing in the year of 1978, the Council shall make or cause to be made a survey of the population changes in the respective wards and enter a written report thereof upon its journal. In the event such survey discloses a decrease or an increase of population amounting to fifteen percent (15%) or more in any ward, an equalizing adjustment of boundaries shall be made by an ordinance of Council. Equalizing adjustments of boundaries may be made at more frequent intervals, if desired by Council, but no adjustment shall be effective with respect to any Municipal election unless the ordinance providing for such adjustment has been passed and publication or posting thereof has been completed at least ninety (90) days prior to the last date for filing nominating petitions for candidates in such election.
(11-7-78; 5-2-95; 11-4-08)
(d) PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL.
The President of Council shall preside at all meetings of Council, perform such duties as may be imposed by Council upon its presiding officer and such duties as are imposed upon him or her by this Charter. The President of Council shall have the same right to vote on all matters presented to Council as any other member of Council. When the Mayor is absent from the Municipality or unable for any cause to perform his or her duties, the President of Council shall become Acting Mayor and shall, during such absence of the Mayor or inability of the Mayor to perform his or her duties, have the same powers and perform the same duties as the Mayor, but he or she shall not thereby cease to act or forfeit any of the rights or duties as President of Council. Upon the death, resignation, disqualification or removal from office of the Mayor, the President of Council shall succeed to the office of the Mayor for the balance of the term to which the Mayor was elected, and shall cease to be a member of Council. The President of Council shall be elected for a term of four (4) years commencing in the election to be held in November, 1991, and every four (4) years thereafter. No person elected President of Council shall hold the office of President for more than three (3) consecutive terms or more than twelve (12) consecutive years, unless one (1) full term or more has elapsed since that person last held the office of President of Council.
(5-2-95; 11-4-97; 11-4-08)
(e) VACANCY.
Any vacancy in the Council shall be filled by the remaining members thereof for the unexpired term. If the Council fails within thirty (30) days after such vacancy occurs to fill same, the Mayor shall fill it by appointment.
(f) MEETINGS.
The Council shall meet at the Municipal Building of the Municipality at such time as may be prescribed by ordinance or resolution, but shall meet at least twice each month, except that the Council may designate one month in the summer season for vacation. Meetings of the Council shall be open to the public in accordance with State law, with the exception of Executive Sessions, which shall only be permitted in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Codified Ordinances of the City of North Royalton, or in the laws of the State of Ohio.
Public Hearings conducted by Council, and notice for same, shall be handled in such manner as Council may by Ordinance provide.
(11-8-88; 11-4-08; 11-6-12)
(g) SPECIAL MEETINGS.
Special meetings may be held on vote of Council taken in any regular or special meeting. Special meetings also shall be called by the Clerk of Council upon the written request of the Mayor, the President of Council, or three (3) members of Council. Any such notice shall state the subject or subjects to be considered at the special meeting, and no other subject or subjects shall be considered unless a majority vote of Council members present so request. A copy of the subject or subjects to be considered or acted upon at this special meeting shall accompany this special meeting notice. Twenty four (24) hour advance notice of each special meeting called by the Mayor, the President of Council, or three (3) members of Council shall be provided to each Council member as prescribed by Ordinance of Council.
(11-7-67; 11-4-97; 11-4-08; 11-8-16)
(h) QUORUM.
A majority of all members elected to the Council shall constitute a quorum to transact business, but a lesser number can adjourn from time to time and compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as shall be prescribed by ordinance. The Council shall determine its own rules and order of business and shall keep its own Journal.
(i) POWERS.
The Council shall have the authority to provide by ordinance or resolution for carrying into effect any or all powers conferred upon municipalities or the inhabitants thereof by the Home Rule provisions of the State of Ohio and the method thereof except where this Charter prescribes that method; and the Council shall perform the duties imposed and exercise the powers conferred upon council of cities by the general laws of the State not conflicting with the Charter or the ordinances and resolutions of the Council.
(j) ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS.
Ordinances and resolutions shall be introduced in the Council only in written or printed form, and the adoption, rejection or amendment, time of taking effect and the signing thereof shall be in the manner provided by the laws of the State of Ohio except as otherwise in this Charter provided. The Council may by general ordinance prescribe the manner of publication of ordinances and resolutions but until so prescribed such publication shall be in the manner provided by statute.
(k) OTHER POWERS.
The Council shall have the management and control of the finances and property of the Municipality except as is prescribed otherwise in this Charter and by the State of Ohio, and shall have such other powers as shall be conferred by the State of Ohio.
(l) SALARIES.
The Council shall have power to fix the salary of the Mayor, its members and of all other employees of the Municipality, whether elected, appointed or chosen.
(11-8-83)
(m) BONDS.
The Council shall fix by ordinance the amount of bond to be given by each officer, clerk and employee of the Municipal government, whether elected or appointed. Such bond shall be given by such officer, clerk or employee, with a corporate surety authorized to do business in the State of Ohio, to the approval of the Mayor; provided, however, that the bond of the Mayor shall be approved by the Council. All such bonds shall be contracted for by the Council and the expense of procuring the same shall be paid by the Municipality. The Mayor shall be the custodian of any bonds of municipal officials, clerks or employees, except that given by him, of which the Clerk shall be the custodian. A bond shall be required of the Mayor, the Chief of Police, the Finance Director and such other officials as may be required by the general laws of the State of Ohio, and such other officials, clerks and employees as may be designated by Council.
(n) REMOVAL.
The Council shall be the judge of the election and qualifications of its own members. It may expel or remove any member for gross misconduct, or misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance in or disqualification for office, or for the conviction while in office of a crime involving moral turpitude, or for a violation of his or her oath of office, or for persistent failure to abide by the rules of Council, or for absence without justifiable excuse granted by Council from three consecutive regular meetings of the Council; provided, however, that such expulsion shall not take place without the concurrence of two-thirds (2/3) of the members elected to Council nor until the accused member shall have been notified in writing of the charge against him or her at least ten (10) days in advance of any hearing upon such charge, and he or she or his or her counsel has been given an opportunity to be heard, present evidence or examine any witness appearing in support of such charge. (11-4-97)
(o) EFFECTIVE DATE OF OFFICE.
All members of Council, including the President of Council, shall take office on the first day of January next following their election, and shall continue to serve until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.
(11-5-68; 11-4-97; 11-8-16)