CHAPTER 20

ATTORNEY

20.01    ATTORNEY. The Council shall retain the service of an attorney who shall, upon request, perform the function of a City Attorney, and the Council shall also retain the service of such other attorneys as it deems necessary.

20.02    POWERS AND DUTIES.

1. Legal Opinions. The City Attorney shall give a legal opinion upon request by the Council on questions of law arising out of any ordinance, suit, claim or demand for or against the City. Written opinions shall be filed and preserved among the records of the Clerk.

2. Legal Advisor. The City Attorney shall act as legal advisor of all officers so far as their official duties are concerned when requested to do so by such officials.

3. Examination of Ordinances. The City Attorney shall report to the Council any defects that are discovered in ordinances and shall draw such ordinances as are requested by the Council.

4. Drawing Contracts. The City Attorney shall, when directed to do so by the Council, draw contracts between the City and other parties.

5. Suits. The City Attorney shall prosecute or defend all suits or other matters in which the City shall be a party, take appeals in such cases as the interest of the City requires and prosecute or defend the City’s interest in all the courts of the State and of the United States, subject to the review or direction of the Council.

6. The City Attorney is authorized to sign the name of the City to bonds and papers of whatever kind necessary in legal proceedings for the prosecution of any suit in court, when necessary to perform his or her duties or as directed to do so by the Council.

7. Delivery of Records to Successor. The City Attorney shall transmit to his or her successor a docket of all cases wherein the City is a party, then pending, and all books, papers and documents in his or her possession belonging to the City.