The Municipal Attorney shall be appointed by the Council for
a term of one year from the first day of January of the year of his
appointment and until his successor has been appointed and qualified.
He shall be an attorney at law of the State of New Jersey, but need
not be a resident of the municipality. The Attorney shall not receive
a fixed salary but shall be paid, as may be agreed upon and authorized
by the Council, such fees and charges as shall be deemed reasonable.
The Attorney shall have such powers and perform such duties
as are provided for the Office of Municipal Attorney by general law
or ordinances of the municipality. He shall represent the Township
in all judicial and administrative proceedings in which the municipality
or any of its officers or agencies may be a party or have an interest.
He shall give all legal counsel and advice where required by the Manager,
Council or any member thereof, and shall in general serve as the legal
advisor to the Council and Manager on all matters of Township business.
In furtherance of such general powers and duties, but without limitation
thereto, the Municipal Attorney shall:
A. Draft or approve as to form and sufficiency all legal documents,
contracts, deeds, ordinances and resolutions made, executed or adopted
by or on behalf of the municipality.
B. Conduct appeals from orders, decisions or judgments affecting any
interest of the Township as he may in his discretion determine to
be necessary or desirable, or as directed by the Council.
C. Subject to the approval of the Municipal Council, have power to enter
into any agreement, compromise or settlement of any litigation in
which the municipality is involved.
D. Render opinions in writing upon any question of law submitted to
him by the Manager or Council or any member thereof with respect to
his official powers and duties, and perform such duties as may be
necessary to provide legal counsel to the Council and Manager in the
administration of municipal affairs.
E. Supervise and direct the work of such additional attorneys and technical
and professional assistants as the Council may authorize for special
or regular employment in or for the municipality.
All papers, documents, memoranda, reports and all other materials
relating to the administration of the legal duties of the Municipal
Attorney shall be and remain the property of the municipality. Upon
the termination of his services with the municipality, the Municipal
Attorney shall forthwith surrender to any successor all such property,
together with a written consent to substitution of any successor in
all legal actions and proceedings then pending to which the municipality
is a party.