City of St. Bernard, Ohio

Charter Page

Article I

Incorporation, Powers and Form of Government

Section 1.01 Preamble: WE THE PEOPLE of St. Bernard, Ohio, in order to secure home rule, provide efficient and fair methods of administering the affairs of the community, ensure the continuation of our present form of government, and provide the best possible protection for the health, safety, and welfare of the community, do hereby adopt this Charter

Section 1.02 Incorporation: The municipal corporation now existing in the County of Hamilton, State of Ohio, and known as the City of St. Bernard, and hereinafter referred to as the "municipality" shall be and continue to be a municipal corporation with all the privileges and powers pertaining thereto. The provisions of this Charter shall apply whether St. Bernard is classified as a city or a village under Ohio law.

Section 1.03 Powers: The Municipality shall have all powers, privileges, and benefits of local self-government and home rule and all other powers accorded to a municipality under the Constitution and general laws of the State of Ohio now or hereafter in effect. All such powers shall be exercised in the manner prescribed by this Charter or, if not prescribed herein, in such manner as shall be provided by ordinances or resolution.

The general laws of the State of Ohio not inconsistent with the Charter, or with ordinances of St. Bernard, shall have the force and effect of ordinances of the Municipality.

The enumeration of particular and specific powers in this Charter shall not be deemed to exclude other powers to which the Municipality is now or hereafter becomes entitled under the Constitution and general laws of the State of Ohio.

Section 1.04 Form of Government: The form of municipal government provided by this Charter shall be known as the "strong Mayor" government. The powers of the municipal government shall be distributed according to the provisions of this Charter among the elected and appointed officials, boards, and commissions, and the electorate.

Section 1.05 Change in Form of Government: The electors of the Municipality shall have the power to change the form of government from the Strong Mayor government to one of the optional plans permitted by Ohio Revised Code § 705 as presently codified or hereafter amended only by amendment of this Charter pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 11.02 of the Charter and Article XVIII, Section 9 of the Ohio Constitution.