CHARTER
FOR THE
CITY OF WESTLAKE, OHIO
   EDITOR'S NOTE: The Westlake Charter was originally adopted on November 6, 1956. Dates appearing in parentheses following a heading indicate that those provisions were subsequently enacted or amended on the date given.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I. POWERS OF THE MUNICIPALITY
   I-1 . Powers.
   I-2 . Manner of Exercise.
ARTICLE II. THE MAYOR
   II-1. Qualifications (11-2-10; 11-3-20).
   II-2. Powers (11-7-00; 11-3-20).
   II-3. Removal (11-2-65; 11-3-20).
   II-4. Term of Office (11-6-90; 11-3-20).
   II-5. Duties.
      (a) Attendance at Council Meetings. (11-3-20)
      (b) Execution of Documents.
      (c) Veto. (11-2-10; 11-3-20)
      (d) Enforcement of Contracts.
      (e) Reports (11-2-65).
      (f) Ceremonial Duties.
   II-6. Vacancy in Office of Mayor.
      (a) Absence (11-7-00; 11-3-20).
      (b) Vacancy (11-2-10; 11-3-20).
ARTICLE III. THE COUNCIL.
   III-1. Number and Term (11-7-72; 11-7-00; 11-3-20).
   III-2. Qualifications (11-2-10; 11-3-20).
   III-3. Duties of Council.
      (a) General Duties (11-4-80).
      (b) Validation of Actions (11-7-72).
      (c) Redividing the City into Wards (11-4-80).
   III-4. President of Council.
      (a) Separate Office (11-7-72).
      (b) Duties (11-7-72; 11-3-20).
      (c) Vacancy in Office (11-7-72; 11-3-20).
   III-5. Removal (11-2-10; 11-3-20).
   III-6. Vacancies.
   III-7. Clerk and Other Employees (11-7-72).
   III-8. Meetings.
      (a) Regular Meetings (11-7-72; 11-3-20).
      (b) Public Meetings (11-7-72).
      (c) Special Meetings (11-7-72; 11-3-20).
      (d) Compel Attendance (11-7-72).
      (e) Emergency Meetings (11-7-72; 11-3-20).
   III-9. Quorum.
   III-10. Procedure (11-6-90).
   III-11. Effective Date of Ordinances and Resolutions (11-4-80).
   III-12. Codification of Ordinances.
   III-13. Enactment of Zoning Ordinances (11-2-65; 11-3-20).
ARTICLE IV. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES
   IV-1. Specific Provisions.
      (a) Departments (11-2-10; 11-3-20).
      (b) Boards and Commissions (11-2-65; 11-3-20).
   IV-2. General Provisions.
      (a) Department Heads (11-2-04).
      (b) Salary of Department Heads (11-7-72).
      (c) Board and Commission Appointees (11-7-72; 11-3-20).
      (d) Continuation in Office (11-7-72; 11-3-20).
      (e) Reappointment (11-7-72).
      (f) Vacancy (11-7-72).
   IV-3. Department of Finance.
      (a) General Duties (11-2-65; 11-3-20).
      (b) Appropriations and Reports. (11-3-20).
      (c) Collections. (11-3-20).
      (d) Certification. (11-3-20).
      (e) Funds Subject to Certification.
      (f) Failure to Comply.
      (g) Attendance at Council. (11-3-20).
   IV-4. Department of Law (11-2-10; 11-3-20).
   IV-5. Department of Public Service (11-2-65; 11-3-20).
   IV-6. Department of Engineering (11-2-65).
   IV-7. Department of Buildings, Structures and Inspections.
      (a) General Duties (11-2-65).
      (b) Qualifications (11-6-90; 11-3-20).
   IV-8. Department of Purchasing.
      (a) General Duties (11-2-65; 11-3-20).
      (b) Limitation on Purchases (11-2-65; 11-3-20).
      (c) Inventory (11-6-90).
   IV-9. Planning Commission.
      (a) Membership (11-2-65; 11-3-20).
      (b) Vacancy.
      (c) Duties (11-6-90).
      (d) Funds.
      (e) Mandatory Referral.
   IV-10. Board of Building and Zoning Appeals.
      (a) Membership (11-2-65; 11-3-20).
      (b) Powers (11-2-65; 11-3-20).
   IV-11. Board of Building Appeals. (11-3-20).
   IV-12. Civil Service Commission.
      (a) Membership (11-2-65).
      (b) Officers (11-2-65).
      (c) Classifications of Service (11-7-00).
      (d) Duties (11-7-00; 11-3-20).
      (e) Funds (11-2-65).
   IV-13. Rights Retained by People (5-8-84; 11-7-00).
ARTICLE V. FINANCE
   V-1. Annual Appropriation Estimate.
      (a) Fiscal Year.
      (b) Estimates (11-8-60).
   V-2. Appropriation Ordinance.
   V-3. Transfers and Balances.
   V-4. Payment of Claims.
   V-5. Public Bidding.
      (a) Bidding Required (11-7-00).
      (b) Waiver of Requirement (11-7-00).
   V-6. Public Improvements.
ARTICLE VI. TAXATION
   VI-1. Limitation on the Rate of Taxation (5-8-84; 11-3-20).
   VI-2. Submission of Extra Levy to Vote (11-4-58).
   VI-3. Other Taxes (11-4-58).
   VI-4. Levy of Taxes for Police and Fire (11-3-15; 11-3-20).
   VI-5. Limitation on the Rate of Taxation (11-8-05).
ARTICLE VII. NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
   VII-1. Municipal Elections (5-6-03).
   VII-2. Nonpartisan Primary Elections (11-7-00).
   VII-3. Declarations of Candidacy (11-3-15; 11-3-20).
   VII-4. Qualifications of Candidates (11-4-80).
   VII-5. Designation of Candidates (11-6-90).
   VII-6. Independent Candidates (11-6-90).
   VII-7. Election Procedures (11-7-00).
ARTICLE VIII. INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM, RECALL
   VIII-1. Initiative (5-6-03).
   VIII-2. Referendum (11-4-80; 5-6-03).
   VIII-3. Recall. (11-3-20).
   VIII-4. General Provisions (11-7-95).
ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS TO CHARTER
   IX-1. Indexing.
      (a) System Used.
      (b) Severability.
   IX-2. Amendments (11-2-10).
ARTICLE X. CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION
   X-1. Review (11-4-80; 11-3-20).
ARTICLE XI. GENERAL PROVISIONS
   XI-1. Effective Date of Charter.
   XI-2. Effect of Charter upon Existing Laws and Rights.
   XI-3. Saving Clause.
   XI-4. Interpretation of Charter.
   XI-5. Franchises.
   XI-6. Continuance of Present Officers.
      (a) Continuance of Officers.
      (b) Abolish Duties.
   XI-7. Oath of Office. (11-3-20).
   XI-8. References to Gender (11-4-80; 11-3-20).
   XI-9. Conflict of Interest: Personal Financial Interest (11-4-80; 11-3-20).
   XI-10. Meetings of Governmental Bodies to be Public; Exception. (11-3-81; 11-6-90; 11-3-20).
CHARTER
FOR THE
CITY OF WESTLAKE, OHIO
PREAMBLE
   We, the people of Westlake in the County of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for the freedoms we enjoy, in order to secure for ourselves the benefits of municipal home rule and exercise all the powers of local self-government, do adopt this Charter of our Municipality.