[11-10-2022 by Ord. No. 8423[1]]
Council by a majority vote of the Council, shall appoint a legal
officer, licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
who shall serve as chief legal adviser to the Council, City Administrator
and all the municipal departments, offices and agencies of the City.
The Solicitor shall represent the City in all legal matters and shall
perform any other duties prescribed by this Charter, by ordinance
or other applicable law.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Art. 135, Bureau of Law, adopted
5-2-1968 by Ord. No. 6226, as amended, was repealed 11-10-2022 by
Ord. No. 8422.
[11-10-2022 by Ord. No. 8423]
(a)
Council, by a vote of at least four members of the Council, shall
appoint a Solicitor for an indefinite term. The City Solicitor may
be one person or a law firm, partnership, association, or a similar
professional entity.
(b)
The Solicitor must be an attorney licensed to practice law in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(c)
The Solicitor must maintain and provide proof of continuous coverage
for errors and omissions.
(d)
The Solicitor shall be appointed either on a full-time basis or a
part-time basis or on a retainer basis or a combination thereof. The
Solicitor shall be compensated as provided by Council in the annual
budget and shall not receive fringe benefits of the City unless the
position of City Solicitor shall become full-time.
[11-10-2022 by Ord. No. 8423]
The Council may appoint an Assistant City Solicitor whose term
of office shall be concurrent with that of City Solicitor, and whose
duties shall be assigned and designated by the City Solicitor.
[11-10-2022 by Ord. No. 8423]
The Solicitor shall be the chief legal officer of the City and
shall be responsible for the following specific duties:
(a)
Attend Council meetings as required.
(b)
Furnish legal opinions to the Council and the City Administrator
on any matter arising in the exercise of their official powers and
duties. When a formal opinion is requested by Council or the City
Administrator, the same shall be in writing citing legal precedents
if available.
(c)
Except as otherwise expressly provided by the Council, supervise,
direct, and control all the legal work of the City.
(d)
Approve all contracts, bonds, and other instruments, and shall approve
all surety bonds.
(e)
Prepare or assist in the preparation of any ordinance or resolution
upon the request of the Council or City Administrator.
(f)
Any other legal matters assigned to the Solicitor by the Council
or City Administrator.
[11-10-2022 by Ord. No. 8423]
Council may, at its discretion, retain special legal counsel
for particular proceedings or matters of the City and shall provide
for the compensation of special counsel. The special legal counsel
shall coordinate with the Solicitor on all legal matters.
[11-10-2022 by Ord. No. 8423]
The Council may, by a vote of at least four members of the Council,
remove the City Solicitor, Assistant City Solicitor, and/or any special
counsel at any time, with or without cause.
