The Township Attorney shall be appointed by
the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council in accordance
with the Charter. Prior to appointment, the Attorney shall have been
admitted to the practice of law in this state.
The Attorney shall be the legal advisor to the
Council, Mayor, Business Administrator, departments and other municipal
agencies except as may otherwise be provided by law. The Attorney
shall prosecute and defend actions and proceedings by and against
the Township, departments and agencies thereof. In furtherance of
these powers, and without limitation thereof, he shall:
A. Prepare or approve all ordinances and substantive
resolutions prior to introduction and passage.
B. Review and approve all contracts, deeds, documents
and instruments prior to the execution thereof by or on behalf of
the Township.
C. Conduct appeals from orders, decisions or judgments
affecting any interest of the Township as directed by the Council.
D. Subject to the approval of the Council, have power
to enter into any agreement, compromise or settlement of any litigation
in which the Township is involved.
E. Advise or render opinions upon any questions of law
pertaining to municipal affairs submitted to him by the Mayor, the
Council or the Business Administrator.
F. Maintain a record of all actions, suits, proceedings
and matters which relate to the Township's interests, and report thereon
from time to time as the Mayor, Council or Administrator may require.
G. Have such other and different functions, powers and
duties as may be provided by Charter or ordinance.
The office shall be organized pursuant to plan approved in Article
VII, §
3-26.
All papers, documents, memoranda, reports and
other materials relating to the administration of the office of Attorney
shall be and remain the property of the Township. Upon the termination
of his service with the Township, the Attorney shall forthwith surrender
to his successor all such property, together with a written consent
to substitution of his successor in all legal actions and proceedings
then pending to which the Township is a party.