[CC 1975 §2-120]
There is hereby created in the City the office of the City Attorney.
[Ord. No. 09-18 §5, 2-12-2009]
A. The
Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Board of Aldermen, at the
regular meeting of said Board in January shall appoint a suitable
person as City Attorney who shall hold office until his/her successor
is appointed and qualified.
B. Qualifications. No person shall be appointed to the office
of City Attorney unless he/she be a licensed and practicing attorney
at law in this State.
[CC 1975 §2-123]
The City Attorney shall perform all duties required of him/her
by the laws of the State and the ordinances of the City.
[CC 1975 §2-124]
It shall be the duty of the City Attorney to advise the Board
of Aldermen or any officer of the City on such legal questions as
may arise in relation to the business of the City and he/she shall
furnish written opinions on legal questions whenever the same may
be required of him/her by said Board.
[CC 1975 §2-125]
It shall be the duty of the City Attorney to prosecute or defend
all suits, in which the City may be a party, in any court of record
all suits before the Mayor, Police Judge or any Justice of the Peace
and to defend all actions brought against any officer, agent or servant
of the City which may arise on account of his/her official acts.
[CC 1975 §2-126]
It shall be the duty of the City Attorney to prepare all charges
and complaints against any party charged with a violation of this
Code or any City ordinance, and he/she shall prosecute the same on
behalf of the City.
[CC 1975 §2-127]
The City Attorney shall make affidavits, on behalf of the City,
in all cases when the same may be necessary in procuring changes of
venue or taking appeals.
[CC 1975 §2-128]
The City Attorney shall report to the Board of Aldermen, in
writing, the condition all suits pending in any court at the Board's
regular meeting after the adjournment of said court. At the last regular
meeting of said Board, before the City Attorney goes out of office,
he/she shall make a report to it giving a statement of all cases pending
in any court, the condition thereof, together with a brief statement
of all judgments obtained and not satisfied for or against the City.
Said reports shall be placed on file in the office of the City Clerk.
[CC 1975 §2-129]
The Mayor and Board of Aldermen may at any time employ additional
counsel at a reasonable compensation to aid the City Attorney in performing
any legal service demanded by the City.