Municipal governments in Ohio typically operate under one of three structures: council-manager, mayor-council, or commission. By Charter, the Village of Yellow Springs follows the council-manager form of government.
While the Village does have an elected Mayor, the role is largely ceremonial. The Mayor is recognized as the official head of the Village for ceremonial purposes and presides over Mayor’s Court, which handles traffic violations, minor offenses, and cases cited under municipal ordinances.
The Village’s nonpartisan Council consists of five members elected at large. Three members are elected in the November general elections of odd-numbered years. The two candidates receiving the highest number of votes serve four-year terms, while the third-highest vote-getter serves a two-year term.
All executive and legislative powers of the Village and the determination of policies are vested in the Council.
By majority vote, Council appoints a Village Manager to carry out its policies, execute the laws, and oversee day-to-day administration of Village government. The Village Manager serves at the direction of Council and has the authority to perform duties as outlined in the Charter.
Council also appoints a Clerk of Council, who serves under the direction of Council. The Clerk attends all Council meetings, maintains an indexed record of proceedings, fulfills record requests and performs other clerical duties as required by Council.