An Ordinance, once passed by Council takes thirty (30) days to take effect. A resolution passed by council has a ten (10) day waiting period. Adding an emergency clause allows the ordinance/resolution to become effective immediately upon the passage of Council, and signature of the Mayor. This does not mean that Council is ineffective in their planning, however. There are a number of reasons that an ordinance/resolution may have an emergency clause added on including but not limited to, appointing members to boards/commissions, transmitting documents to the county/state government in a timely manner, authorizing the Mayor to purchase police/fire vehicles while prices are low. Waiting on matters such as this would hinder the functioning of local government.

Ordinances, or legislation of a more permanent nature shall have three readings, or be read at three separate meetings. This is to give Council the chance to discuss and consider amendments, residents a chance to give feedback and share concerns, and better understand if the legislation will achieve its desired goal. However, there are some instances where Council feels they do not need, or do not want to wait three meetings to pass something. During these instances, Council can take a vote to suspend the rules and place legislation on its third reading. This bypasses the necessity to have three meetings.

An Executive Session is a closed meeting of a governing body to discuss confidential matters that cannot be made public. In an Executive Session, Council cannot take any votes, there are no minutes or records of conversations. Council must vote via roll call to enter executive session, and can only enter executive session for a number of reasons per Ohio State Law. Those reasons are:

• (1) To consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion or compensation of a public employee or official, or the investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual, unless the employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual requests a public hearing by division (G)(1) of section 121.22 of the Revised Code.
• (2) To consider the purchase of property (both real and personal, tangible or intangible), or to consider the sale of property (either real or personal) by competitive bid if disclosure of the information would give a competitive advantage to the other side by division (G)(2) of section 121.22 of the Revised Code.
• (3) Conferences with the public body’s attorney concerning pending or imminent court action by division (G)(3) of section 121.22 of the Revised Code. Court action is “pending” if a suit has been commenced; court action is “imminent” if it is on the point of happening or impending.
• (4) Preparing for, conducting, or reviewing collective bargaining strategy by division (G)(4) of section 121.22 of the Revised Code.
• (5) Matters required to be kept confidential by federal law, federal rules, or state statutes by division (G)(5) of section 121.22 of the Revised Code.
• (6) Specialized details of security arrangements where disclosure of the information to be discussed in executive session might reveal information that could be used to commit, or avoid prosecution for, a violation of the law by division (G)(6) of section 121.22 of the Revised Code.

There is a difference! An ordinance is a more permanent local law. Whereas a resolution is more temporary in nature. Examples of Ordinances include approving a multi-year labor agreement, the budget, amending the City Code, or approving tax agreements. Examples of Resolutions include designating a month as a holiday, applying for a grant, authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract for a singular purchase/act.