[Ord. No. 7497, § 1, 3-13-1986]
The City Council shall, at its first meeting after the general
City election or as soon thereafter as practical, elect by a majority
vote a City Attorney for the City, who shall hold office at the pleasure
of the Council.
[Ord. No. 7497, § 1, 3-13-1986]
The City Attorney shall be a resident of the City and licensed
to practice law in the state.
[Ord. No. 7497, § 1, 3-13-1986; Ord. No. 7548, § 1, 7-3-1986]
The duties of the City Attorney shall include, but are not limited
to, the following:
(1) To appoint, with the consent of the City Council, and to direct and
supervise Assistant City Attorneys and prosecuting attorneys.
(2) To prosecute or defend before the Mayor, the Municipal Judge or any
magistrate, all actions brought by or against the City and all actions
brought by or against any officer of the City on account of his official
acts or in the discharge of the duties of his office.
(3) To prosecute or defend all suits or actions that may be brought by
or against the City in any court of record or before any commission
or board, including the Public Service Commission of the state.
(4) To prosecute or defend in any court or before any commission or board
all such suits or actions as may be appealed from the Mayor, the Municipal
Judge, a magistrate, the Circuit Court, or a commission or board.
(5) To prosecute appeals on behalf of the City from any court, commission
or board, and to make the necessary affidavits therefor.
(6) To advise the Council, City boards and the City officers in all matters
pertaining to the affairs of the City, and for that purpose, the City
Attorney shall attend all meetings of the Council. Upon request of
the Mayor or any member of the Council, the City Attorney shall make
written reports and offer written opinions. In addition, the City
Attorney shall orally advise and respond to all Council members and
those City employees designated by the Chief Administrative Officer
concerning legal questions and matters.
[Ord. No. 7497, § 1, 3-13-1986]
The City Attorney may appoint Assistant City Attorneys with
the approval of the City Council. The Assistant City Attorneys shall
report to the City Attorney and shall handle such matters as may be
assigned by the City Attorney.
[Ord. No. 7497, § 1, 3-13-1986]
The City Prosecutor shall be appointed by the City Attorney
with the approval of the City Council. The City Prosecutor shall prosecute
all cases pending before the Municipal Judge of the City, shall prosecute
all appeals from matters heard in the Municipal Court, and shall perform
such other legal services as may be assigned by the City Attorney.
The City Attorney may appoint Assistant City Prosecutors with the
approval of the City Council. The assistant prosecuting attorneys
shall have all of the authority vested by law in the prosecuting attorney.
[Ord. No. 7497, § 1, 3-13-1986]
The City Attorney, Assistant City Attorneys and the City Prosecutor
shall receive such compensation for their services as the City Council
shall from time to time determine. Such compensation may be provided
by fees and may be paid directly to such officers or to a law firm
or firms of which they are members or employees.