Townships are administrative units of state government whose original purpose was to facilitate the survey and sale of land. The responsibilities of townships vary greatly depending upon the degree of urbanization. Some townships are densely populated and have major urban problems, while others are mostly farm land with associated problems.
All townships have four elected officials: three trustees and one clerk. Township officers are elected at the general elections in off-numbered years for terms of four years. Two trustees are elected the year after presidential elections, and one trustee and the clerk the year following gubernatorial elections.
Township trustees have discretionary (quasi-legislative), executive and judicial functions. They may, at their discretion, adopt certain regulations as allowed by state law. For instance, they may regulate engine noise and vehicle parking, noise from a bar that serves liquor, and size and location of drive-in movie screens. Trustees may establish regulations for fire and police protection.
The township trustees are the executive officers of the township. They are responsible for appropriating township funds, and they are the township taxing and purchasing authority. They hold title to and are responsible for the physical property of the township. They may own such facilities as parks, cemeteries and hospitals. These may be owned by a single township, or in conjunction with other townships and/or municipalities.
The judicial functions of township trustees include resolving line fence disputes and, in case of township zoning, deciding upon the adoption of zoning plans and amendments.
Township trustees may hire personnel and enter into contracts as necessary to perform their duties.
The township clerk is primarily a ministerial official, responsible for the recording of meetings, receipts and expenditures.
In 1991, the Ohio General Assembly authorized townships, by vote of the citizens, to establish an alternative form of government giving them limited powers of self-government. This alternative may be put before the voters by township trustee resolution or by initiative petition of 10% of the voters casting ballots for governor at the preceding election for that office.
If the alternative form is adopted, the elected official structure remains three trustees and one clerk. The law details which self-government powers the township acquires. Township law may be found in ORC Title 5.