[Amended 3-27-2019 ATM by Art. 34]
The Select Board shall each year within thirty days after the annual election of Town officers appoint some attorney-at-law as Town Counsel, who shall serve for the term of one year and until his successor is appointed; he shall receive for his services such compensation as the Town may determine and he may be removed at any time by a majority vote of said Board. Said Board may, whenever it deems necessary, employ special counsel to assist or act in place of the Town Counsel.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Sec. 2 of this article, which immediately followed this section, was amended 4-24-1974 ATM by Art. 89 and deleted 5-3-1982 ATM by Art. 48.
[Amended 5-3-1982 ATM by Art. 48; 4-9-2001 ATM by Art. 29; 3-27-2019 ATM by Art. 34]
The Town Counsel shall draw or supervise the drawing or approval of all contracts, deeds, bonds and other legal instruments relating to the Town; he shall give legal advice and furnish a written opinion when so requested by the Town Meeting or by any Town officer, board, department, committee, commission, authority or trusteeship, regarding any legal question or matter relating to the duties of such officer, board, department, committee, commission, authority or trusteeship, and no such officer or entity shall at the expense or in behalf of the Town employ or be represented by any other than the Town Counsel unless authorized by the Select Board.
[Amended 3-27-2019 ATM by Art. 34]
The Town Counsel shall, as soon as possible after receiving notice from the Chief of Police or otherwise, of any injury to person or property, under circumstances which may give rise to a claim of damages against the Town, make or cause to be made a thorough investigation relative thereto and, with the approval of the Select Board, take such steps as may be deemed necessary to properly protect and defend the Town against such claim.
[Amended 4-24-1974 ATM by Art. 89; 3-27-2019 ATM by Art. 34]
The Town Counsel shall, unless otherwise directed by the Town Manager with the approval of the Select Board, prosecute or defend all cases and proceedings to which the Town is a party. He shall also prosecute, unless otherwise directed by the Town Manager with the approval of the Select Board, all cases for the breach or violation of the by-laws of the Town.
[Amended 5-3-1982 ATM by Art. 48; 6-16-2014 STM by Art. 7; 3-27-2019 ATM by Art. 34]
The Town Counsel shall annually report in writing to the Select Board, by a date determined by the Select Board, all actions by or against the Town which were pending at the beginning of the preceding fiscal year; all actions brought by or against the Town during such year; and all actions settles or disposed of during such year. Such report shall show the full name of each plaintiff or defendant, the nature and amount of the claim in each case, and the terms upon which any case was settled or disposed of during such year. Such report shall be printed in the Annual Town Report.