Article I
INCORPORATION AND POWERS
 
SECTION 1.01 NAME AND BOUNDARY.
   The municipal corporation existing as the Village of Union under the general statutes of the State of Ohio shall continue to be a body politic and corporate under the same name under this Charter. The municipality shall have the same boundaries that exist on the effective date of this Charter, with power and authority to change its boundaries and annex territory in the manner authorized by the laws of Ohio. When the municipality shall attain the status of a City, under the Constitution and laws of Ohio it shall be known as the "City of Union". As used in this Charter, "Municipality" shall mean the municipal corporation of Union.
 
SECTION 1.02 POWERS.
   The Municipality shall have all the powers that may now or hereafter lawfully be possessed or exercised by municipal corporations under the Constitution and laws of Ohio, including all powers of local self-government and Home Rule.
   All powers of local self-government and Home Rule shall be exercised in the manner prescribed in this Charter, or to the extent not prescribed thereby, then in such manner as the Council may determine; and, when not prescribed by this Charter or determined by Council, then in such manner as may now or hereafter be provided by the general laws of Ohio.
   No act of the Municipality shall be invalid or limited by reason of failure to enumerate a particular power in this Charter.
 
SECTION 1.03 FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
   The municipal government provided by this Charter shall be known as the "Mayor-Council-Manager Form of Government". Pursuant to its provisions and subject only to the limitations imposed by the State constitution and by this Charter, all powers of the municipality shall be vested in an elected Mayor-Council, which shall enact local legislation, adopt budgets, determine policies, and appoint the Manager, who shall execute the laws and administer the government of the municipality.
 
SECTION 1.04 INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION.
   (a)    In carrying out any lawful function or power of the Municipality, the Council may, by a majority vote of its members, authorize the execution of contracts or in any other manner provide for cooperation or joint action, between the Municipality and the Federal Government, State of Ohio, other states, Municipalities, Subdivisions of any state, Council of Governments or other organizations, corporations, whether for profit or nonprofit, firms, persons, or other entities, their officers, departments, divisions, instrumentalities or other units or agencies thereof.
 
   (b)    The powers granted by this section shall be liberally construed to authorize intergovernmental cooperation, or other cooperation, but shall not authorize the avoidance of the provisions of this Charter concerning taxation or initiative or referendum.