CHARTER OF
YELLOW SPRINGS, OHIO

EDITOR'S NOTE: A fifteen member Charter Commission was elected to draft a Charter for the Village of Yellow Springs on November 8,1949. Officers were: Paul D. Nosker, Chairman; John H. King, Vice-Chairman; and Bertha C. Hull, Secretary. This Commission submitted its draft September 18, 1950, and the Charter was adopted by the electorate at the general election of November 7, 1950. Dates following section headings indicate provisions subsequently amended or adopted on the dates given. In 1990 the charter was revised so as to render it gender neutral. In 2007 the charter was again revised so as to resolve conflicting language between present adopted practices and past practices.

   TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREAMBLE

ARTICLE 1: FORM AND POWERS

Section 1.   Incorporation.

Section 2.   Form of Government.

Section 3.   Powers of the Village. (11-3-15)

ARTICLE II: THE COUNCIL

Section 4.   Membership. (11-2-71, 11-3-15)

Section 5.   Qualification of Members. (11-3-15)

Section 6.   General Election Laws to Apply.

Section 7.   Time of Election.

Section 8.   Nominations. (11-7-67, 11-6-90, 11-3-15)

Section 9.   Ballots.(11-6-90)

Section 10.   Voting.

Section 11.   Election. (11-3-15)

Section 12.   Vacancies. (11-2-71, 11-3-15)

Section 13.   Salaries. (11-6-07, 11-3-15)

Section 14.   Induction of the Council into Office; Meetings. (11-6-90, 11-3-15)

Section 15.   President of the Council.(11-3-53; 11-3-15)

Section 16.   Clerk of the Village Council. (11-3-15)

Section 17.   Powers. (11-3-15)

Section 18.   Appointment of Village Manager. (11-3-15)

Section 19.   Removal of Village Manager. (11-6-07)

Section 20.   Rules of Procedure; Journal.

Section 21.   Ordinances and Resolutions.

Section 22.   Procedure for Passage of Ordinances; First Reading. (11-7-67, 11-6-07, 11-3-15)

Section 23.   Public Hearing before Passage of Ordinance. (11-7-67, 11-6-07)

Section 24.   Further Consideration; Final Passage of Ordinance. (11-7-67)

Section 25.   Emergency Ordinances.

Section 26.   Resolutions.

Section 27.   Audit. (11-6-90)

ARTICLE III: JUDICIARY

Section 28.   Judicial Powers.

Section 29.   Mayor. (11-7-72)

ARTICLE IV: THE VILLAGE MANAGER

Section 30.   Appointment. (11-6-07, 11-3-15)

Section 31.   Powers and Duties. (11-6-07)

ARTICLE V: FINANCES

Section 32.   Financial Powers of the Village. (11-3-15)

Section 33.   Administration of Finances.

Section 34.   Village Treasurer.

Section 35.   The Fiscal Year.

Section 36.   Preparation and Submission of Budget.

Section 37.   Capital Improvements in Budget. (11-6-90, 11-3-15)

Section 38.   Further Provisions of Budget.

Section 39.   Adoption of Budget. (11-3-15)

Section 40.   Transfer of Appropriations.

Section 41.   Unencumbered Balances.

Section 42.   Power to Incur Indebtedness.

Section 43.   Borrowing in Anticipation of Revenue.

Section 44.   Provision for Additional Tax Levies. (11-3-15)

Section 45.   Power to Provide for Taxes. (11-3-15)

Section 46.   Maturity of Bonds.

Section 47.   Disposition of Funds. (11-6-07, 11-3-15)

Section 48.   Control of Expenditures.

Section 49.   Competitive Bidding. (11-6-79, 11-6-07)

ARTICLE VI: PUBLIC UTILITIES

Section 50.   Village Manager's Responsibility.

Section 51.   Rates.

Section 52.   New Services Established by the Council. (11-3-53, 11-3-15)

Section 53.   New Services Established by Electorate. (11-3-53, 11-3-15)

Section 54.   Termination of Utility Services.

Section 55.   Extension Beyond Corporate Limits.

Section 56.   Granting Franchises. (11-3-15)

Section 57.   Limitations on Franchises.

Section 58.   Quality and Rates of Service.

Section 59.   Right to Purchase. (11-3-15)

Section 60.   Extension of Service.

Section 61.   Consent Not Required.

Section 62.   Control of Location.

ARTICLE VII: PLANNING COMMISSION AND ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

Section 63.   Membership, (11-6-07, 11-3-15)

Section 64.   Powers and Duties. (11-6-90, 11-3-15)

Section 65.   Adoption of Plans by the Council.

Section 66.   Zoning and Building Appeals. (11-7-67)

ARTICLE VIII: INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM AND RECALL

Section 67.   Power of Initiative and Referendum.

Section 68.   The Petition. (11-3-15)

Section 69.   The Initiative. (11-3-15)

Section 70.   The Referendum. (11-3-15)

Section 71.   Power of Recall.

Section 72.   Recall Petition.

Section 73.   (Repealed) (11-3-15)

Section 74.   (Repealed) (11-3-15)

Section 75.   Filling of Vacancies Following Recall Elections. (11-3-15)

Section 76.   Miscellaneous Recall Election Provision.

ARTICLE IX: GENERAL

Section 77.   Agreement with Other Government Units. (11-3-15)

Section 78.   Annexation and Abandonments.

Section 79.   Village Solicitor.

Section 80.   Amendments. (11-3-15)

Section 81.   Classified Employees. (11-6-90)

Section 82.   Personnel Policy Manual. (11-6-90, 11-6-07)

Section 83.   Specific Acts Forbidden.

Section 84.   Bonding. (11-6-07)

Section 85.   Oath of Office. (11-6-07)

Section 86.   Saving Clause.

ARTICLE X: SUCCESSION IN GOVERNMENT

Section 87.   Effective Date of Charter.

Section 88.   Ordinances Continued in Force. (11-6-07)

Section 89.   Continuance of Present Officers.

Section 90.   Transfer of Records and Property.

Section 91.   Continuance of Contracts and Vested Rights.