[Amended 11-8-2022]
There shall be a Town Solicitor who shall be appointed by the Town Council, to serve at the pleasure of the Town Council. The Town Solicitor may, in like manner, and subject to the approval of the Town Council, appoint one (1) or more assistant Town Solicitors.
The Town Solicitor and any assistant Town Solicitor shall be an attorney-at-law in good standing of the bar of this state. The solicitor need not be a resident of the town. The Town Solicitor and any assistant Town Solicitor shall not hold any other office in the town government, except that of acting Judge of Probate when so necessary.
The Town Solicitor shall serve as chief legal advisor to the Town Council and to the Town Manager.
The Town Solicitor shall appear for and protect the rights of the town in all actions, suits, or proceedings, civil or criminal, in law or equity, brought by or against it, or for or against any of its departments, offices or agencies, including the Town Council, the Town Manager and the School Committee.
The Town Solicitor shall also perform such other duties, appropriate to the office, as the Town Council and the Town Manager may require.
The Town Solicitor shall examine and approve the form of all ordinances and resolutions and of all invitations to bid, contracts, and other legal documents issued by any department, office or agency of the town.
[Amended 11-8-2016]
All written opinions of the Town Solicitor furnished to the Town Council, the Town Manager, and all departments, offices and agencies of the town shall be filed with the Town Clerk and shall become a public record. All unwritten opinions of the solicitor expressed during any Town Council meeting shall be recorded in the town council minutes as such.