CHARTER
OF THE CITY OF
NORWALK, OHIO
TABLE OF CONTENTS
   EDITOR'S NOTE: The Norwalk Charter was approved by the voters at a primary election on May 2, 1972 and generally became effective December 1, 1972. Dates appearing in parentheses following a section heading indicate that those provisions were subsequently amended or adopted on the date given. On November 8, 1994, the voters amended the Charter to be read and interpreted as gender neutral.
   PREAMBLE
 
      ARTICLE I.      INCORPORATION, POWERS, SUCCESSION AND FORM OF GOVERNMENT
         Sec. 1.01   Incorporation.
         Sec. 1.02   Powers of the City.
         Sec. 1.03   Construction.
         Sec. 1.04   Manner of Exercise of Powers.
         Sec. 1.05   Form of Government.
      ARTICLE II.     THE MAYOR
         Sec. 2.01   Term of Office. (11-5-02)
         Sec. 2.02   Qualifications and Eligibility.
         Sec. 2.03   Powers and Duties. (11-4-08)
         Sec. 2.04   Acting Mayor.
         Sec. 2.05   Vacancy, Creation of.
         Sec. 2.06   Vacancy, Filling of.
         Sec. 2.07   Salary. (11-4-03)
      ARTICLE III.     THE CITY COUNCIL
         Sec. 3.01   Number, Selection, Term. (5-6-14)
         Sec. 3.02   Qualifications and Eligibility.
         Sec. 3.03   Vacancy, Creation of.
         Sec. 3.04   Vacancy, Filling of. (11-7-23)
         Sec. 3.05   Rules, Journal.
         Sec. 3.06   Powers of Council.
         Sec. 3.07   Organization and Meetings of Council. (5-2-89; 11-7-23)
         Sec. 3.08   President of Council.
         Sec. 3.09   President Pro Tempore. (11-4-08)
         Sec. 3.10   Clerk of Council. (11-7-23)
      ARTICLE IV.    ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
         Sec. 4.01   Action by Council.
         Sec. 4.02   Introduction of Ordinances. (11-7-23)
         Sec. 4.03   Procedure in Ordinance Making. (11-4-97)
         Sec. 4.04   Adoption of Ordinances.
         Sec. 4.05   Emergency Ordinances.
         Sec. 4.06   Publication of Ordinances. (11-6-73)
         Sec. 4.07   Effective Date of Ordinances.
         Sec. 4.08   Initiative and Referendum.
         Sec. 4.09   Adoption of Ordinances by Reference.
         Sec. 4.10   Resolutions. (11-8-83; 11-7-23)
         Sec. 4.11   Revision and Codification of Ordinances.
      ARTICLE V.     ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENTS
         Sec. 5.01   Administrative Departments Created. (11-4-08)
         Sec. 5.02   Department Directors. (11-5-91)
         Sec. 5.03   Department of Law. (11-8-94)
         Sec. 5.04   Department of Finance. (11-5-91)
         Sec. 5.05   Department of Safety.
         Sec. 5.06   Department of Service. (11-4-08)
         Sec. 5.07   Department of Public Works. (11-4-08)
      ARTICLE VI.     BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
         Sec. 6.01   Civil Service Commission. (5-6-14; 11-8-22)
         Sec. 6.02   Planning Commission. (11-6-73)
         Sec. 6.03   Powers and Duties of Planning Commission. (11-4-08)
         Sec. 6.04   Council Action on Planning. (11-4-03)
         Sec. 6.05   Board of Building and Zoning Appeals.
         Sec. 6.06   Powers and Duties of Board of Building and Zoning Appeals.
         Sec. 6.07   Board of Park Commissioners.
         Sec. 6.08   Powers and Duties of Board and Park Commissioners. (11-3-98)
         Sec. 6.09   Board of Control. (11-2-10)
         Sec. 6.10   Powers and Duties of the Board of Control.
      ARTICLE VII.     FINANCES
         Sec. 7.01   General.
         Sec. 7.02   Adjustment of Appropriations.
         Sec. 7.03   Accounting.
         Sec. 7.04   Purchasing. (11-3-98)
         Sec. 7.05   Competitive Bidding.
         Sec. 7.06   Overexpenditures.
         Sec. 7.07   Illegal Contracts Voidable.
         Sec. 7.08   Capital Improvement Reserve Fund. (2-4-92)
         Sec. 7.09   Capital Investment Trust Fund. (7-30-91)
      ARTICLE VIII.     TAXATION, INDEBTEDNESS AND SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS
         Sec. 8.01   Power to Levy Taxes and Incur Indebtedness.
         Sec. 8.02   Special Assessments.
      ARTICLE IX.     NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
         Sec. 9.01   Municipal Elections.
         Sec. 9.02   Nominations and Elections.
         Sec. 9.03   Terms of Office. (11-8-88)
         Sec. 9.04   Supervision of Elections.
         Sec. 9.05   Special Elections. (11-4-03)
      ARTICLE X.     GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 10.01   Oath of Office.
         Sec. 10.02   Official Bonds.
         Sec. 10.03   Assessments and Contributions.
         Sec. 10.04   Fees.
         Sec. 10.05   Recall.
         Sec. 10.06   Removal from Office.
         Sec. 10.07   Enforcement of Subpoenas.
         Sec. 10.08   General Law.
         Sec. 10.09   Severability Clause.
         Sec. 10.10   Amendments to this Charter.
         Sec. 10.11   Charter Review Commission.
         Sec. 10.12   Interpretation.
         Sec. 10.13   Incompatible Offices.
      ARTICLE XI.    TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 11.01   Continuation of Ordinances, Resolutions and Other Enactments.
         Sec. 11.02   Continuation of Officers and Employees.
         Sec. 11.03   Pending Matters.
         Sec. 11.04   Continuation of Boards and Commissions.
         Sec. 11.05   Transfer of Powers.
         Sec. 11.06   Property and Records.
         Sec. 11.07   Effective Date of Charter.
CHARTER
OF THE CITY OF
NORWALK, OHIO