(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) hereof, when the office of a member of Council becomes vacant, the vacancy shall be filled by election by Council for the unexpired term. If Council fails, within thirty days, to fill such vacancy, the Mayor shall fill it by appointment, except that, subject to subsection (b) hereof, when the vacancy occurs because of the operation of Section 232.02, the successor shall hold office only for the period the President Pro Tempore of Council holds the office of Mayor.
(b) When a vacancy occurs in the office of a member of Council of a village with a population of less than 2,000, because of the operation of Section 232.02, at the time the President Pro Tempore becomes Mayor the President Pro Tempore shall decide whether the President Pro Tempore wishes to serve the remainder of the President Pro Tempore's unexpired term as a member of Council when the Mayor's successor is elected and qualified in accordance with that section. If the President Pro Tempore decides to serve the remainder of the President Pro Tempore's unexpired term as a member of Council, the vacancy on Council shall not be filled and the President Pro Tempore shall resume serving the President Pro Tempore's unexpired term on Council as soon as the Mayor's successor is elected and qualified. If the President Pro Tempore decides not to resume serving the remainder of the President Pro Tempore's unexpired term as a member of Council, as soon as the Mayor's successor is elected and qualified, then the vacancy in the office of member of Council shall be filled in accordance with this section.
(ORC 731.43)