The council shall appoint a City attorney for an indefinite term and shall fix his compensation. He shall be an official of the City and shall be appointed either on a full time basis or a part time basis or on a retainer basis, where he shall serve the City as needed and required. The City attorney shall be admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
The City attorney shall be the chief legal officer of the City. He shall have the following powers and duties;
A. 
He shall furnish legal advice to the council, to the manager, and to all boards and commissions concerning any matter or thing arising in connection with the exercise of their official powers or performance of their official duties and, except as otherwise expressly provided by the council, shall supervise, direct and control all of the law work of the City. In the event of legal conflict between council and council created boards or commissions, council shall provide funds for legal counsel to that board or commission.
B. 
The City attorney shall collect, or cause to be collected, by suit or otherwise, all debts, taxes and accounts due the City which shall be placed with him for collection by any officer, department, board or commission, and shall represent the City and every officer, department, board or commission in all litigation.
C. 
He shall prepare or approve all contracts, bonds and other instruments in writing in which the City is concerned, and shall approve all surety bonds required to be given for the protection of the City.
D. 
At the direction of the council, he shall investigate any violation or alleged violation within the City of statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or of the United States of America or of ordinances of the City or the County, and shall take such steps and adopt such means as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to enforce or cause the enforcement within the City of such statutes and ordinances.
E. 
Upon the request of the council or of the Chairman of any committee of council or of the manager, the City attorney shall prepare any ordinance or resolution for presentation before the council.
F. 
At the direction of the council, he shall appear for and represent the City, or, if appropriate, the residents of the City as a class, on matters before the various regulatory agencies of other governmental bodies.
The City attorney shall have the right of access at all times to the records of any officer, department, board or commission of the City, as necessary in the performance of the duties of the City attorney.