(a) Appointment, Qualifications, Term of Office. The Public Utilities Board shall consist of five members, appointed by the Mayor with the approval of Council. Members shall be residents of the City of Orrville, except that not more than one member may be a resident of any area outside the City, which is served by one or more of the utilities under the control of the Board, who is a paying user of one or more of such utilities. No member of the Board shall hold any other office or employment with the City. The terms of office of members of the Board shall be five years, and no member shall serve for more than three terms in succession.
(b) Officers and Meetings. The Public Utilities Board shall elect annually from among its members, at the first meeting of the Board in January, a President who shall preside at all meetings of the Board, and a Vice President, who shall preside in the absence of the President. The Board shall hold regular meetings at least twice a month at a designated time and place. The Board may dispense with regular meetings for not more than one month each year. The board shall provide, in its rules and regulations, procedures for calling special meetings. All meetings of the Board shall be open to the public except the portions thereof devoted to actual or threatened litigation, personnel matters and matters involving the sale and acquisition of land or any other matter permitted under Ohio law to be discussed in closed session.
(c) Powers and Duties. The Public Utilities Board shall be responsible for the operation and maintenance of, and any improvements or expansions of, the electric, water, and sanitary sewer utilities of the City, and may adopt such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with this Charter, as the Board shall deem necessary for the conduct of its affairs and for the management and operation of the utilities, and for the supervision of the officers and employees of the City under its control. The Board shall recommend rates to be charged for the use and consumption of the products and services of such utilities as shall be sufficient at all times to provide for the economical and efficient operation and management of such utilities, and for the payment of debt service charges on notes or bonds of the City issued for the improvement or expansion of any of such utilities. Any recommended adjustment in such utility rates shall be submitted to the Council at a regular meeting for its review and approval or disapproval, which shall be by administrative action taken not sooner than at the next regular meeting, and upon approval, such adjustment in rates shall become effective immediately. If the Council fails to approve or disapprove such recommended rates not later than the fifth regular meeting of the Council following the receipt of such recommendation from the Public Utilities Board, such recommended rates shall become effective immediately following such fifth meeting.
(d) Director of Utilities. The Public Utilities Board shall appoint a Director of Utilities, who shall be the managing head of the Department of Public Utilities, and who shall be responsible to the Board for the proper operation and maintenance of the utilities which are under the control of the Board, and, with the approval of the Board, for the selection, promotion, demotion, discipline and removal of the other officers and employees of the Department of Public Utilities. (Amended by voters 11-3-81; 11-2-21.)