The Mayor, as ex officio Director of Public Safety, may make any contract, purchase supplies or material, or provide labor for any work under the supervision of the Department of Public Safety involving not more than the amount specified in R.C. § 9.17. When an expenditure within the department, other than the compensation of persons employed in the department, exceeds the amount specified in R.C. § 9.17, the expenditure shall first be authorized and directed by ordinance or resolution of City Council. When so authorized and directed, except where the contract is for equipment, services, materials, or supplies to be purchased under R.C. § 713.23(D) or R.C. §§ 125.04 or 5513.01 or available from a qualified nonprofit agency pursuant to R.C. §§ 4115.31 to 4115.35, the Director shall make a written contract with the lowest and best bidder after advertisement for not less than two nor more than four consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation within the city. No expenditure subject to this section shall be divided into component parts, separate projects, or separate items of work in order to avoid the requirements of this section; to do so shall constitute prima facie misfeasance, malfeasance, and/or nonfeasance in office.
(Ord. 19-2003, passed 6-2-2003; Ord. 55-2005, passed 12-12-2005; Ord. 24-2015, passed 8-3-2015; Ord. 28-2023, passed 12-18-2023)