Each proposed ordinance shall be in writing, shall contain a title and an opening clause: "Be It Ordained by the Council of the Municipality of Worthington, County of Franklin, State of Ohio:", and shall set forth at length therein the action to be taken. Each ordinance shall contain but one subject which shall be summarized in its title. At a regular or special meeting of Council, a proposed ordinance shall be read by title only and may thereupon be introduced by a member of Council. At the option of the President of Council, a title may be read in summary fashion, which shall include the ordinance number and a succinct description of the action to be considered. Upon its introduction and in the absence of it being declared an emergency ordinance as hereinafter provided, a public hearing date on the ordinance shall be scheduled for a subsequent regular or special meeting of the Council as it shall determine. The Clerk of Council shall cause a notice of public hearing on the ordinance to be published, in a manner determined annually by Council, once in a newspaper of general circulation in the Municipality prior to the scheduled hearing date, and/or posted on at least one electronic medium. Such notice shall contain the title of the ordinance or a succinct summary of the title, the time, date, and place of the public hearing, and a statement that the ordinance is on file for public inspection in the office of the Clerk of Council. At the public hearing, the ordinance shall be read a second time by title only, or by a succinct summary of the title only as may be determined by the President of Council, and, thereafter, the public hearing commenced under such rules as Council may provide. At the conclusion of the public hearing, the Council shall vote to adopt, with or without amendment, or reject the ordinance. The adoption of an ordinance shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of Council and the attestation by signature thereon of the President and the Clerk of Council.
In addition to those categories of ordinances specifically set forth in Section 2.19 of this Charter, an ordinance necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health, safety, and welfare of the Municipality may be passed as an emergency measure to be immediately effective upon its passage and publication either: (1) upon introduction, provided the notice of public hearing on the ordinance is waived and the ordinance is declared to be immediately effective upon its passage and publication; or (2) at the conclusion of the public hearing thereon provided the ordinance is declared to be immediately effective upon its passage and publication. A six-sevenths (6/7) vote of the members of Council shall be required to waive the waiting period, to declare the immediate effectiveness of the ordinance, and to pass the ordinance.
(Amended November 8, 2016.)