Goverment
Girard is a non-charter city municipal government. The city of Girard operates under a mayor-council statutory form of government as provided by the Ohio Constitution and the laws of the State of Ohio. The other possible forms of local government available are commission and charter types. As a statutory city, Girard has home rule powers, but operates under a governmental structure prescribed by the State of Ohio. That structure is as follows:
The executive branch of government consists of an elected mayor, auditor, law director, treasurer, and president of council. Except for the president of council, who is elected for a two-year term of office, all other executive officeholders are elected for four-year terms. There are no term limits under the statutory form of city government.
The mayor is the chief executive officer of the city charged with executing the laws of the state and ordinances (laws) passed by city council and overseeing the operations and affairs of the city in conjunction with the various department heads. The Safety-Service Director, who is appointed by the mayor, is the city's chief administrative officer and is responsible for overseeing daily operations of all departments and is executive head of the police and fire departments. The SSD is also charged with enforcing all zoning and property maintenance codes. The primary departments responsible for providing governmental services are the police, fire, street, health, wastewater treatment, parks, and recycling/ litter control departments. The mayor, with the assistance of the auditor and tax commissioner, is responsible for preparing annual budgets for council's consideration and approval.
The mayor is also the appointing authority for the city and with the Director of Public Service and Safety constitutes the Board of Control. The Board of Control is the contracting agent for the city. The mayor also appoints various boards and commissions to carry out various administrative services. These include the Civil Service Commission, Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Health, and Tax Commissioner. The mayor, or the mayor's designee, also represents the city on various regional boards and agencies and often serves as the chief spokesman for the city with the state and federal government and the general public. In recent years, economic development has become a major focus of city government.
The auditor, or finance director, is the chief financial officer responsible for overseeing all expenditures of the city and that they are made in accordance with law. The auditor's office is the keeper of the books and advises the mayor and council on financial matters affecting the city. The auditor also certifies the availability of funds for city budgets and major projects undertaken by the city. The auditor appoints a Tax Review Board to monitor city income tax collections and procedures. The treasurer deposits and maintains the record of the various account funds into which various sources of revenue are deposited. The treasurer is also responsible for investing available city funds and issues all checks.
The law director is the city's lawyer and is responsible for providing legal advice and direction to other municipal officers as needed. The law director reviews all contracts to be entered into by the Board of Control and serves as prosecutor for the Girard Municipal Court. The law director also oversees the Crime Victims Program.
The president of council presides over all meetings of City Council and appoints all committees of City Council, subject to their approval. The president of council enforces the rules of council and parliamentary procedure. The president of council also serves as acting mayor in the event the mayor is unavailable. As an administrative officer, the president of council helps coordinate activities between the mayor and council.
Under the regular general statutory plans for cities, the City Council is composed of no less than seven members, four of whom shall be elected by wards and three at large. Council members serve two-year terms.