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Committee seeks clarity on charter language about when contracts 'go into full operation'
Summary
Committee members questioned Section 39 language that a contract must 'go into full operation' during incumbents' terms; the law director said the provision is interpreted to mean a contract is executed during the council's term.
Members of the City of Sandusky Charter Review Committee discussed Section 39, which says certain contracts must "go into full operation" during the current council’s term, and asked the law director what that phrase means in practice.
Committee member David Miller asked whether "full operation" means a contract must be completed, started or merely signed. The law director said the committee has interpreted the provision to mean the contract is executed—signed by all parties—during the current council’s term. The law director noted the provision sometimes arises near the end of a council’s term because successors could inherit long-term contracts.
Committee members discussed practical implications, including the effect of emergency ordinances (which take effect immediately) versus regular ordinances that may take 30 days to take effect; one member said the language could prevent passing certain items in the month before an election if the contract would not be executed during the current term. A committee member suggested striking the provision; others said they had not commonly seen it in other charters.
The committee did not change the language at this meeting but asked for further consideration of whether the provision poses an administrative problem or should be revised.
