Cross References

Passing ordinance over Mayor's objections - see CHTR. Sec. 25

Mayor's financial estimate - see CHTR. Sec. 26

Mayor appointing Metropolitan Airport and Aviation Commission - see AVIA. 1703.01

The executive and administrative powers of the city shall be vested in the mayor, directors of departments and other administrative officers and boards provided for in this charter or by ordinance.

The mayor shall be the chief executive officer of the city, elected for a term of four years. The mayor shall be an elector of the city and shall, at all times during the term of office, maintain residence in the city of Columbus. The mayor shall not hold any other public office or employment, except that of notary public, or member of the state militia or any reserve unit of the Armed Forces of the United States of America. If the mayor shall cease to possess any of the qualifications herein required, the mayor shall forthwith forfeit the office and the vacancy shall be filled as provided for herein.

(Amended 11-5-85; 11-3-98; Ord. No. 1749-2014, 7-21-2014)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1749-2014, adopted July 21, 2014, repealed § 59 in its entirety. Former § 59 pertained to salary of mayor and was derived from Original Charter.

The mayor shall appoint and shall have power to remove the following officers:

1.

The director of public safety.

2.

The director of public service.

3.

Any other officers whose positions may be created by council and for whose appointment no provision is herein made.

4.

Executive Staff of the office of the mayor.

(Ord. No. 2199-2022, § 2, 7-25-2022)

With the concurrence of council, the mayor shall appoint the members of the civil service commission, the members of the board of health and the members of any advisory commission provided for by council. The mayor, with the concurrence of council, may at any time remove any member so appointed, for inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office, having first given to such member a copy of the charges and an opportunity to be heard in person or by defense counsel, before the council, and such removal shall be final.

(Amended 11-5-75; 11-3-98; Ord. No. 1747-2014, 7-21-2014)

It shall be the duty of the mayor to act as chief conservator of the peace within the city; to supervise the administration of the affairs of the city including but not limited to purchases and sales on behalf of the city; to see that all ordinances of the city are enforced; to recommend to the council for adoption such measures as the mayor may deem necessary or expedient; to keep the council advised of the financial condition and the needs of the city; to prepare and submit to the council such reports as may be required by that body, and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are conferred or required by this charter or by the laws of the state in so far as they are consistent with this charter or by such laws of the state as it is beyond the competency of this charter to supersede.

(Adopted 5-7-74; amended 11-3-98.)

The mayor shall establish a cabinet consisting of the directors of the departments created by this charter and by ordinance of council along with the Executive Staff appointed pursuant to Sec. 60.

(Ord. No. 2199-2022, § 2, 7-25-2022)

The mayor may without notice cause the affairs of any department or the conduct of any officer or employee to be examined. Any person or persons appointed by the mayor to examine the affairs of any department or the conduct of any officer, or employee, shall have the same power to compel the attendance of witnesses, and the production of books and papers and other evidence and to cause witnesses to be punished for contempt, as is conferred upon the council by this charter.

If the mayor is temporarily absent from the city, the mayor may designate a member of the mayor's cabinet as acting mayor. During a period of temporary absence of the mayor, the acting mayor so designated shall exercise such powers and duties of the office of mayor as the mayor shall delegate.

(Amended 11-5-74; 11-3-89; Ord. No. 1749-2014, 7-21-2014; Ord. No. 2199-2022, § 2, 7-25-2022)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1749-2014, adopted July 21, 2014, amended the title of § 64 to read as set out herein. Former § 64 was titled succession of mayor—acting mayor.

If the mayor is unable to discharge the powers and duties of office, such inability being of temporary duration, the mayor, or the mayor's agent, shall transmit a designated member of the mayor's cabinet, a signed, written declaration setting forth the reasons for such inability and the city clerk shall be notified of the same; provided that failure to do so shall not prevent the proper officer from performing the powers and duties of the office. The recipient of such declaration shall be designated as acting mayor. During a period of temporary inability of the mayor, the powers and duties of the office of mayor shall devolve upon the acting mayor. Such declaration shall be in effect until such time as the declaration is rescinded in like manner, or six months have passed, or the office is vacated. For the purpose of this section, the mayor shall file with the city clerk a notarized statement, on a form prescribed by the city clerk, setting forth the name of one or more persons designated as the mayor's agent(s). The filing shall be made by the second meeting of council each January and may be amended at any time.

(Ord. No. 1749-2014, 7-21-2014; Ord. No. 2199-2022, § 2, 7-25-2022)

If the mayor has been unable to discharge the powers and duties of office for ninety consecutive days, and no written declaration of temporary inability was in effect during such ninety consecutive days, such act shall work a forfeiture of office and the director of public safety and the director of public service shall request that the appropriate official commence in the appropriate court an action in quo warranto to vacate the office. If judgment be made that the office be vacated, a successor shall be named as provided for in this charter.

(Ord. No. 1749-2014, 7-21-2014)

If the mayor dies, resigns, is removed from office, ceases to hold any qualification for office, or the office is otherwise vacated during the term of office, the mayor shall be succeeded in office, until the 1st day of January following the next regular municipal election, by the president of the council who shall thereby cease to be a member of council. If such election be the time for the regular election of a mayor, a mayor shall then be elected to serve for a term of four years, otherwise for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(Ord. No. 1749-2014, 7-21-2014)

The mayor, the directors of public service and public safety, the city attorney and the director of any other department that may hereafter be established by ordinance, shall be entitled to seats in the council. Neither the mayor nor the director of any department, nor the city attorney, shall have a vote in the council, but the mayor shall have the right to introduce ordinances and to take part in the discussion of all matters coming before the council; and the directors and city attorney shall be entitled to take part in all discussions in the council relating to their respective departments.