(A) Contracts by the legislative authority.
(1) All contracts made by the legislative authority shall be executed in the name of the municipality and signed on its behalf by the Mayor and Clerk. Except where the contract is for equipment, services, materials or supplies to be purchased under R.C. § 125.04, 713.23(D), or 5513.01, or available from a qualified nonprofit agency pursuant to R.C. §§ 4115.31 through 4115.35, or required to be purchased from a qualified nonprofit agency under R.C. §§ 125.60 through 125.6012, when any expenditure, other than the compensation of persons employed in the municipality, exceeds the amount specified in R.C. § 9.17, such contracts shall be in writing and made to the lowest and best bidder after advertising once a week for not less than two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation within the municipality. The legislative authority may also cause notice to be inserted in trade papers or other publications designated by it or to be distributed by electronic means, including posting the notice on the legislative authority's internet web site. If the legislative authority posts the notice on its web site, it may eliminate the second notice otherwise required to be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the municipality, provided that the first notice published in such newspaper meets all of the following requirements:
(a) It is published at least two weeks before the opening of bids;
(b) It includes a statement that the notice is posted on the legislative authority’s internet website;
(c) It includes the internet address of the legislative authority’s internet website; and
(d) It includes instructions describing how the notice may be accessed on the legislative authority’s internet website.
(2) The bids shall be opened and shall be publicly read by the Clerk or a person designated by the Clerk at the time, date, and place specified in the advertisement to bidders or specifications. The time, date, and place of bid openings may be extended to a late date by the legislative authority, provided that written or oral notice of the change shall be given to all persons who have received or requested specifications no later than 96 hours prior to the original time and date fixed for the opening. This division does not apply to the municipality if an administrator has been appointed pursuant to the provisions of R.C. § 735.271, or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.(R.C. § 731.14)
(B) Contract by Administrator; central purchasing.
(1) In those municipalities that have established the position of Administrator as provided by R.C. § 735.271, or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, the Administrator shall make contracts, purchase supplies and materials, and provide labor for any work under the Administrator's supervision involving the amount specified in R.C. § 9.17. When an expenditure, other than the compensation of persons employed by the municipality, exceeds the amount specified in R.C. § 9.17, the expenditure shall first be authorized and directed by ordinance of the legislative authority. When so authorized and directed, except where the contract is for equipment, services, materials, or supplies to be purchased under R.C. § 125.04, 713.23(D), or 5513.01 or available from a qualified nonprofit agency pursuant to R.C. §§ 4115.31 through 4115.35, or required to be purchased from a qualified nonprofit agency under R.C. §§ 125.60 through 125.6012, the Administrator 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 municipality or as provided in R.C. § 7.16. The bids shall be opened and shall be publicly read by the Administrator or a person designated by the Administrator at the time, date and place specified in the advertisement to bidders or specifications. 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 or requested specifications no later than 96 hours prior to the original time and date fixed for the opening. All contracts shall be executed in the name of the municipality and signed on its behalf by the Administrator and the Clerk. No expenditure subject to this division (B) shall be divided into component parts, separate projects, or separate items of work in order to avoid the requirements of this division (B).
(2) The legislative authority may provide, by ordinance, for 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 or materials, and provide labor for any work of the municipality in the manner provided by this division (B).
(R.C. § 731.141)