About the Marietta City Council

Marietta City Council is the legislative branch of Marietta, Ohio city government. The legislative authority of the city of Marietta is vested in a seven-member city council. Marietta City Council represents the interests of their constituents by responding to inquiries, suggestions and complaints regarding city programs and services. City council is primarily responsible for making laws which govern the city of Marietta, Ohio. City council proposes, debates, and votes on legislation governing the city.

The council enacts ordinances and resolutions to provide for city services, enacts and amends the city's codified ordinances, sets public policy, makes appropriations, incurs debt, establishes city employment positions and salaries of all employees of the city, exercises budgetary control over city departments, confirms the mayor's appointments, adopts an annual balanced budget and to perform such other duties and exercise such other rights as may be granted to the legislative authority of any municipality of the state of Ohio.

Council is presented information in committee meetings by the administrative branch of city government for city department operations, by citizens requesting council action on a subject or by another government agency. Council also introduces legislation generated by individual council members or council as a whole.

Proposed legislation is considered in a public committee meeting. The committee will decide to have the city law director proceed with preparing legislation to be read and voted on at a regular or special council meeting.

Marietta City Council's office is located at 304 Putnam Street, Suite 2120. The president of council maintains the permanent records of council and the records are open to the public by request

About the Members of City Council

President of Council
The president of council presides over all regular and special meetings of the council although he has no vote therein except in case of a tie. The president of council appoints all council members to the standing committees and is responsible for several city board and commission appointments as well as in charge of the records of city council. The president of council oversees all the day to day operations of the clerk of council. The president of council serves as the liaison to the city administration. When the mayor is absent from the city or unable to perform his duties, the president of council shall become acting mayor and shall have the same powers and perform the same duties as the mayor. The president of council is elected to a two-year term.

At-Large Council Representatives
Three at-large council members represent the entire city of Marietta. All members of council chair a standing committee and serve on two other standing committees. At-large council members sponsor and introduce legislation and have a vote. All council members are elected to two-year terms.

Ward Council Representatives
Four ward council members represent each of the city's four wards. All members of council chair a standing committee and serve on two other standing committees. Ward council members sponsor and introduce legislation and have a vote. All council members are elected to two-year terms.

President Pro Tem
A president pro tem is chosen by the members of the council from among the council to serve as the president pro tem (acting president of council) in the absence, disability or when the president of council is serving as acting mayor.

Non Elected Member of Council
Clerk of Council
The clerk of council is responsible for recording council meeting minutes, reading the legislation at council meetings and performing the daily operations of the council office. The council clerk is appointed by the council and is supervised by the president of council.