(A) Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, the Administrator shall be the contracting officer of the Municipality and shall award and execute all contracts on behalf of the Municipality.
(B) The Administrator shall make contracts, purchase supplies, and provide labor for any work under the Administrator's supervision involving not more than fifty thousand dollars. When an expenditure, other than the compensation of the persons employed by the Municipality, exceeds a minimum of fifty thousand dollars or as otherwise provided by ordinance, such contract or expenditure shall first be authorized and directed by resolution of the Council. When so authorized or directed by the Council, except as provided under Sections 9.02(B) and 9.02(E), the Administrator shall make a written contract with the lowest and best bidder after advertisement for not less than two weeks but no more than four consecutive weeks on the Municipality's website or a newspaper of general circulation in the Municipality. The Administrator may reject any and all bids. The time, date, and place of bid openings may be extended to a later date by the Administrator, provided that written or oral notice of the change shall be given to all persons who have received the requested specifications no later than ninety-six hours prior to the original time and date fixed for the opening. Following authorization by ordinance of the Council, all contracts shall be between the Municipality and the bidder, executed in the name of the Municipality, and signed on its behalf by the Administrator.
The Council may provide, by ordinance, for the central purchasing for all offices, departments, divisions, boards and commissions of the Municipality, under the direction of the Administrator, who shall make contracts, purchase supplies, and provide labor for any work of the Municipality in the manner provided by this Section.
(C) By an affirmative vote of at least five members, the Council may waive the competitive bidding requirement of Section 9.02(B) if the Council determines that an emergency threatens public safety or property, or an item or service is only available from a single source or provider, or when funding could be lost due to time constraints, or if the item or service is available under the cooperative purchasing program administered by the Ohio Department of Administrative Services pursuant to Section 125.04 of the Ohio Revised Code, or if the Council determines that a waiver of the competitive bidding requirement is in the best interest of the Municipality.
(D) The Council shall establish procedures for alterations or modifications of contracts. Modifications or alterations of contracts shall not require competitive bidding.
(E) Notwithstanding any provision of the laws of the State of Ohio, contractors and vendors shall not be entitled to receive interest on funds temporarily retained on a contract pending final acceptance of work performed or goods supplied, nor shall the Municipality be required to maintain a separate escrow amount to hold such retained funds.
(F) Contracts or other agreements for professional services, including, without limitation, architectural, engineering, surveying, testing, inspection, technology/computer, and legal services, shall not be subject to competitive bidding requirements set forth in this Section and shall not require authorization by the Council if the current operating budget provides sufficient funding for the services to be provided or if the Council has otherwise appropriated money for such services. Contracts for professional design services as defined in Section 153.65 of the Ohio Revised Code (as amended or revised) shall not be subject to the requirements of Sections 153.65 through 153.73 of the Ohio Revised Code (as amended or revised), but instead will be procured through procedures set forth in Section 9.02(B).