ARTICLE II
THE CITY COUNCIL
SECTION 2.01: Number,
Selection, Terms
The Council shall consist of seven (7) members, one (1) member of whom
shall be elected from each of the four (4) wards, as those wards now
exist, or as they may, from time to time, be altered by the Council, and
three (3) elected from the City at large, all of whom shall be elected on
a nonpartisan ballot.
The members of Council shall begin their terms on the first day of January
following their elections and serve for a period of four (4) years.
At the first regular City election, to be held in November 1987, after
this charter takes effect, the voters will elect one (1) Councilmember
from each of the four (4) wards and three (3) Council members at large. The
Council members elected from wards one and three and the Councilmember at
large receiving the highest number of votes will serve for a term of four
(4) years. The Council members elected from wards two and four and the two
(2) Council members at large receiving the second and third highest number
of votes shall serve for a term of two (2) years. Every two (2) years
thereafter, an election shall be held to replace those Council members
whose terms are due to expire.
A Councilmember shall hold no other elected public office or position of
City employment.
Council may expel or remove any member for gross misconduct or persistent
failure to abide by the rules of the Council, provided two-thirds (2/3) of
Council members shall concur.
SECTION 2.02: President of Council
At the first yearly meeting of Council, Council members will elect from
their ranks, for a term of one (1) year, a President of Council and a Vice
President of Council by the concurrence of at least four (4) votes.
The duties of the President of Council will be to perform all ceremonial
duties of the mayor, as the Council may direct, and to preside over
Council meetings. The President of Council, as a member of Council, will
retain *his vote.
*Whenever the masculine "pronoun" or "possessive" is used in this
document, the feminine "pronoun" or "possessive" is also intended.
The Vice President of Council shall serve in the absence or disability of
the President and shall succeed to his office in case of a vacancy
therein. While acting in the place of the President of Council, the Vice
President shall have the same powers and duties as the President.
The salary of the President of Council shall be established by ordinance,
which salary shall not be increased or decreased during the President's
term of office. This salary will be 20% more than that of a Councilmember.
SECTION 2.03: Qualification and Eligibility
Council members shall be qualified electors of the City, and if elected
by ward, of the ward from which elected.
All members of Council shall have been residents of the City continuously
for at least one (1) year prior to their election, shall be qualified
electors of the City, and shall continue to be residents and qualified
electors thereof throughout their respective terms of office.
SECTION 2.04: Filling Vacancies
If any member of Council shall die, resign, or be disqualified, the
remaining members of Council shall, by the concurrence of at least four
(4) votes, choose his successor who shall serve during the remainder of
the unexpired term.
SECTION 2.05: Rules
Council shall determine its own rules and procedures and shall keep a
journal which shall be open to public inspection in the office of the
clerk. Council members shall take and subscribe to the prescribed oath of
office for the City of Galion by an officer of the court.
No member of Council shall sell any goods to nor render any remunerated
service for the City.
SECTION 2.06: Powers of Council
The legislative powers of the City and the determination of all
matters of policy shall be vested in the City Council subject to the terms
of this charter and the constitutions of the United States of America and
the State of Ohio.
SECTION 2.07: Organization and Meetings of Council
Council shall determine the time and place for holding its regular
meetings and shall meet at least twice each month. All meetings shall be
open to the public unless otherwise prescribed by law.
A special meeting of the Council shall be called at the request of the
City Manager or any three members. Except in case of emergency, notice of
a special meeting shall be served on each member personally or left at his
usual place of residence at least twenty-four (24) hours previous to the
time of the meeting. The purpose of a special meeting shall be stated in
the notice and no other business shall be transacted at such meeting.
Four (4) members of Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business, but a lesser number may adjourn.
SECTION 2.08: Clerk of Council
The Council shall appoint a Clerk for an indefinite term whose duty
shall be to keep the journal and other records of the Council and to
perform such other duties as the Council may require.
SECTION 2.09: Salary
The salary of Council members and Clerk shall be established by
ordinance. The salary of a member of Council shall not be increased during
such member's term of office; such salary shall not be decreased during
such term of office except with the consent of such members of Council.
SECTION 2.10: Elections and Nominations
Nominations for all Council members of the City shall be made by
petition only and no primary shall be held to nominate Council members of
the City. Nominating petitions shall be in the form determined by the
election authorities provided under the general laws of Ohio and signed by
electors of the City. Ward Council members will require fifty (50) valid
signatures from that particular ward. At large candidates will require
seventy-five (75) valid signatures from throughout the City.
Both regular and special City elections shall be conducted by the Board of
Elections of Crawford County, Ohio, under the provisions of this charter.
Where the charter is silent, provisions of the State election laws shall
be followed.
The regular City elections for all elected offices, and for issues to be
presented to the voters, shall be held on the dates and at the times fixed
by the election laws of Ohio for general statutory plan cities, except
that all such officers shall be elected to terms of office as provided in
this charter.
The Council may, at any time, order a special election by ordinance which
shall set the date and purpose of the election. Special elections may be
held on any day except a Sunday or a holiday.
SECTION 2.11: Recall, Initiative and Referendum
The powers of recall of elected officials and of initiative and
referendum are reserved to the people as provided by the Ohio revised
code. The procedure to be followed shall be as provided by the Ohio
revised code.
ARTICLE III - THE CITY MANAGER
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