The Manager shall be the contracting officer of the Municipality; and shall execute all contracts and agreements on behalf of the Municipality in the manner and under the procedures provided by this Charter, subject, however, to the following provisions:
a. When the expenditure of funds for the purchase of supplies, equipment, or materials, or to provide labor for work to be performed under a contract for a public improvement, does not equal or exceed the amount requiring advertisement and competitive bidding under Subsection b. hereof; the Manager shall also award contracts and agreements for said expenditures not exceeding such a definite and certain limit as shall be set from time to time by the Council. All contracts and agreements for expenditures in excess of such definite and certain limit shall be awarded by the Council.
b. When the expenditure of funds for the purchase of supplies, equipment or materials, or to provide labor for any work to be performed under a contract for a public improvement; exceeds the amount specified by the law of the State of Ohio now or hereafter in effect for which such purchases or work may be accomplished without resort to advertisement and competitive bidding; no such expenditure shall be made unless the same be first authorized and directed by an ordinance enacted by the Council. Upon passage of such an ordinance, the Council shall award a written contract to the lowest and best bidder after advertising for bids on the same day of each week for not less than two (2) nor more than four (4) consecutive weeks in a newspaper determined by the Council to be of general circulation within the Municipality.
c. Compensations of persons and employees; contracts with persons, firms, or corporations for service requiring specialized or professional skill, knowledge, or training; and expenditures required because of a real and present emergency arising in connection with the construction, maintenance, operation, or repair of municipal buildings, equipment, and facilities, and provision of municipal services, when first authorized by an ordinance adopted by the affirmative vote of at least three-fourths (3/4) of all the members of the Council, may be awarded and executed without the necessity of advertisement and competitive bidding.
d. Modifications and changes to contracts awarded under competitive bidding, which modifications and changes increase the total expenditure by an amount which would itself require advertisement and competitive bidding under Subsection b. hereof; shall first be authorized by an ordinance enacted by the Council; however, advertisement and competitive bidding shall not be required.
e. No contract or order shall be wilfully split or divided into separate contracts or orders solely in order to avoid the requirement of advertisement and competitive bidding as provided by Subsection b. hereof.
f. The Manager may designate the Finance Director to act as Purchasing Agent to award and execute such contracts, orders, and agreements on behalf of the Municipality as the Manager is authorized to award and execute pursuant to the provisions of Subsection a. hereof.