The City of Fairview Park is a Charter city with a split executive form of government that includes both a Mayor and City Council. The City is subject to its own laws as defined in the Charter and Codified Ordinances, the laws of the State of Ohio and all Federal Laws. The municipal charter establishes the form and organization of our City government and is very similar to a state or federal constitution. The Charter of the City of Fairview Park was adopted at a general election in November of 1958. All changes or amendments to our City Charter must be passed in legislative form (Ordinance) and then submitted to the electors of the City during a general election for their approval prior to being enacted. This procedure is mandated not only by language in the Fairview Park City Charter but also supported by Article XVIII of the Ohio Constitution.

The Mayor of the City of Fairview Park is elected at a regular non-partisan municipal election for a term of four years. The Mayor must be a resident of the City for at least two years immediately prior to the date of his or her election and must continue to be a resident for the duration of the term and shall not hold any other pubic office. The Mayor is the chief executive officer of the City and supervises the administration of the City’s affairs, oversees and is responsible for all City departments, divisions and offices. The Mayor is responsible for the preparation and submission of the City budget and appropriation measures and has the ability to enter into and oversee any contracts or agreements that the City is a party to. The Mayor also has the power to appoint, promote, transfer, reduce or remove any officer or employee of the City except those required by the Charter to be elected. The Department Directors are appointed by the Mayor but must be approved by 2/3 of the voting members of Council.

The City Council is currently an eight-member body comprised of five Ward Councilmembers, one At-Large Councilmember, a Council President and a Clerk of Council. All Council positions are elected for a period of two years by the electors of the City except for the Council Clerk, who is appointed by a majority of the voting members of Council to a two-year term. All legislative powers of the City except as otherwise provided by the Constitution of the State of Ohio are vested in the elected members of our City Council. An elected Councilmember must be a resident of the City for two years immediately prior to his or her election and must remain a resident for the duration of the Council term. Ward Councilmembers must also be a resident of the ward that they wish to represent for at least two years prior to their election. Councilmembers may not hold any other municipal office or municipal employment in the City.

The President of Council presides over all regular and special meetings of Council and shall only vote in the event of a tie.

The Clerk of Council manages the Council office, maintains the public record, prepares resolutions commending or recognizing certain people or events, prepares meeting agendas, maintains the minutes of all Council meetings and disseminates legislative copies and information upon request.  

The City Council adopts its own rules, regulations and by-laws and maintains a record of all of its proceedings. The Council record shall be open to public inspection at all reasonable times.

All legislative action by Council shall be introduced in written or printed form and requires an affirmative vote by the majority of Council for passage and enactment. Each ordinance or resolution, except for those on emergency passage, must be read at three separate meetings and discussed in committee prior to passage. Emergency legislation can be passed after one reading but must have the reasons for immediate passage attached and requires an affirmative vote of 3/4 of the voting members for passage.

All Council meetings are open to the public and the dates and times of each meeting are given to the local media, all City departments, and posted on a billboard in front of City Hall. Council does hold a public session during each regular meeting of Council in order to provide an opportunity for residents and non-residents to address any and all concerns with the Mayor, City Directors and Council.