City of Saco, ME Article V Departments and Divisions [1]

[1] Editor's Note: See also Art. V of the Charter.

§ 4-12 Division of administrative service.

[Amended 10-7-2002; 1-22-2013]

The administrative service of the City shall be divided under the City Administrator into the following Departments:

Department	Division	Department Head
Administration	City Administration	City Administrator
	Purchasing Agent
	Personnel Management
	Street Lights
	Hydrants
	City Building
	Engineering
	Planning
	Community Development
	Legal
	Economic Development
Assessing	Assessing	Assessor
Building Inspection and Code Enforcement	Building Inspector	Building Inspector
	Health Inspector
	Plumbing Inspector
	Electrical Inspector
City Clerk	City Clerk	City Clerk
	Welfare
	Board of Registration
Finance	Accounting	Finance Director
	Treasury
	Tax Collection
Fire	All Fire Stations	Fire Chief
	Ambulance
Civil Emergency Preparedness		Director of Civil Emergency Preparedness
Parks and Recreation	Parks	Director of Parks and
	Recreation	Recreation
	Trees
	Senior Citizens
Police	Police Department	Police Chief
Public Works	Streets and Highways	Director of Public Works
	Sewers and Drains
	Camp Ellis Pier
	Snowfighting
Water Resource Recovery Division	All treatment plants	Director of Water Resource Recovery Division

§ 4-13 Department of Administration.

A. Establishment. There shall be a Department of Administration, the head of which shall be the Administrator.

B. City Planning and Community Development Offices. There may be offices which shall not have department status but shall be in the City Administrator's Office, the heads of which shall be the Planning Director, the Economic Development Director and the Community Development Director, respectively, who shall be appointed by the City Administrator.

(1) Planning Office.

(a) The City Planning Office shall work with the City Administrator in all matters that are within the scope of urban revitalization, community development, facilities planning or open space preservation. The City Planning Office shall supply the City Administrator and other departments with statistical and graphic information pertinent to future facilities.

(b) The City Planning Office shall ask, advise and supply information to the Planning Board in matters dealing with land subdivision and development, amendments to its rules and regulations, the updating and revision of the City's Comprehensive Plan, amendments to the City Zoning Ordinance and any other matter in which the Board seeks its aid or advice.

(2) The Community Development Office shall develop all programs concerning urban revitalization, facilities planning, community development and urban revitalization and make applications, with Council approval, to federal and state agencies for funds to implement these programs. Administration of these funds shall be by the City Administrator. The Community Development Director shall provide staff support to the Community Development Advisory Board. The Community Development Director shall be the supervisor of all staff of the Office.

(3) Economic Development Office. The Economic Development Office shall encourage, promote, establish, solicit and provide for industrial development, expansion and growth within the City of Saco, within the Saco Industrial Park, so called, and on lands hereafter acquired by the City for industrial uses and purposes and on other lands within the City which may be privately owned but which are particularly adaptable to industrial uses. The Economic Development Director shall:

(a) Encourage and promote the development and expansion of existing industrial and commercial uses within the City.

(b) Gather, correlate and preserve statistics, surveys and other data relating to land classification and uses, buildings, labor statistics and other matters that will enable the Economic Development Office to carry out its function and purposes.

(c) Perform such other functions as may be required for economic development and improvement, as required by the City Administrator. He shall provide an annual report to the City Administrator as to the current status and potential growth of economic development in the City.

(d) Prepare an annual operating budget for each fiscal year for the Office of Economic Development and submit that budget to the City Administrator for inclusion in the City operating budget not less than three months prior to the commencement of such fiscal year.

(4) City Historian. The Mayor shall nominate, and the City Council shall confirm the appointment of, a City Historian. The Office of City Historian shall be supervised by the City Administrator and will provide advisory and informational assistance to the work of the City Council, City staff, and to those City boards who may benefit therefrom. The City Historian shall also be responsible for educational outreach efforts to the general public and Saco schools and will work with the City Administrator to develop a suitable proposal for community outreach and education on an annual basis. This is a volunteer position with a three-year appointment. The Council may approve a stipend for the City Historian annually.

[Added 3-1-2021]

§ 4-14 Department of Finance.

A. Establishment. There shall be a Department of Finance, the head of which shall be the Finance Director. The Finance Director shall be appointed by the City Administrator, with final confirmation of the City Council.

B. Duties. The Department of Finance shall be responsible, under the City Administrator, for financial planning, budget reporting and control. The Department shall also, under the administrative direction of the City Administrator, supervise the lease, rental or use and the maintenance of all City property not used by other departments of the City.

C. Responsibilities of the Department of Finance. This Department shall be responsible for the following:

[Amended 3-20-2023]

(1) Purchasing and Accounting. The Finance Director shall be responsible for the proper preaudit and recording of all financial transactions. The Finance Director shall keep informed and maintain records as to the sources of supply for all classes of purchases, price trends or other related matters and shall perform such additional duties as prescribed by the City Council.

(2) Treasury. The Finance Director will be responsible to safeguard the City's cash resources, to invest said resources in a responsible manner in compliance with all applicable regulations, and to issue debt as prescribed by local, state, and federal regulations.

(3) Division of Tax Collection. There shall be a Division of Tax Collection in the Office of Finance. The head of this Division shall be the Tax Collector, who shall be appointed by the City Administrator on the recommendation of the Finance Director and confirmed by the City Council. The Collector is not an agent of the City. He/she is a public officer, owning to the public and not the City. His/her authority comes from the statutes, and he/she cannot be controlled by the City in the execution of his/her authority. The City cannot, by vote, increase, diminish or vary the duties imposed on the Collector by statute. The Tax Collector is responsible for the sound fiscal management of his/her Department. The Tax Collector shall compute, issue and collect all excise fees on motor vehicles owned and operated by the residents of Saco and turn these fees over to the Treasurer at least monthly.

[Amended 6-5-2000]

D. Insurance. The Director of Finance shall audit and provide for the safe storage of all policies of insurance placed on City property.

E. The City Administrator may appoint a separate director to manage the City's financial procedures as laid out in Article IV of the City Charter and to perform internal auditing functions, who shall report directly to the City Administrator and maintain independent oversight over the Finance Department's internal procedures.

[Added 3-20-2023[1]]

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance also redesignated former Subsection E as Subsection F, respectively.

F. Economic Development Fund.

(1) There is established a nonlapsing fund, known as the "Economic Development Fund," which shall be used to provide for industrial development, expansion and growth within the City of Saco, as specified in Subsection E(4).

(2) Unless contrary to the terms of the loan or grant, all income received by the City through the repayment of public loan or grant funds identified in Subsection E(3) shall be deposited to the Economic Development Fund. All income received through the sale, lease or option of property at the Saco Industrial Park shall be deposited to the Economic Development Fund.

(3) The following public loan or grant programs fall within the scope of this Subsection E:

(a) Federal urban development action grants.

(b) Federal grants from the Economic Development Administration.

(4) The City Council may make allocations from the Economic Development Fund only to accomplish the following purposes:

[Amended 5-22-2017]

(a) To further develop and expand the existing Industrial Park.

(b) To develop new industrial parks within the City of Saco.

(c) To develop new office parks or distribution parks.

(d) To accept fiscal transfers into the Fund from the City's various Development (TIF) District Funds.

(e) To allow fiscal transfers from the Fund to the City's General Fund and third parties related to the operations of the City's Economic Development Department, Economic Development Commission, and such other municipal expenses as may be allowed under the terms of the development plans of the City's various development districts.

(f) To allow fiscal transfers from the Fund to the City's General Fund to fund any local match for grants or participatory funding for economic development projects.

(g) To allow fiscal transfers from the Fund to the City's General Fund to fund any approved annual or other funding to the following:

[1] Saco Main Street, Inc.

[2] Southern Maine Planning and Development Corporation.

[3] The Biddeford Saco Area Economic Development Corporation.

[4] The Biddeford Saco Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

[5] Other organizations as the City Council may designate from time to time that assist in the City's economic development efforts.

(h) To allow fiscal transfers from the Fund for the purposes of making economic development grants as approved under the City's Development Districts and Tax Increment Financing Guidelines (adopted by the City Council on June 16, 1997, readopted by the City Council without amendments on August 1, 2005, and as amended April 3, 2017).

(5) The Director of Finance shall maintain records and prepare reports concerning the Economic Development Fund.

(6) The Economic Development Advisory Board may make recommendations to the City Council regarding allocations from the Economic Development Fund. The Economic Development Director may request, in his/her annual budget request or at subsequent times, allocations from the Economic Development Fund.

§ 4-15 City Clerk's Department.

A. Establishment. There shall be a City Clerk's Department, the head of which shall be the City Clerk, who shall be appointed by the City Administrator with approval from the City Council. The City Administrator shall appoint a Deputy City Clerk, to act as his/her agent, and as many assistant clerks as necessary, within a budget approved by Council.

B. Duties. The City Clerk shall:

(1) Serve as Clerk to the Council and perform all duties for the Council as it may require. He/she shall authenticate, by his/her signature, and be responsible for the filing, indexing and safekeeping of all proceedings of the Council, which shall be open to public inspection.

(2) Make all arrangements for elections and keep and maintain election records and have custody of all property used in connection with elections.

(3) Issue to every person appointed to any office by the City Council or by the City Administrator a certificate of such appointment and administer oath of such office.

(4) Publish all legal notices, unless otherwise provided.

(5) File and preserve all contracts, security bonds, oaths of office and other documents not required to be filed elsewhere.

(6) Issue all licenses and permits authorized by the municipal officers or the Council and collect the fee required thereof as provided by state law or City ordinance.

(7) Notify the Chief of Police on or within one week after the expiration date of each license or permit when a new license or permit to take effect on such expiration date has not been applied for, except when the City Clerk knows that no new license or permit is required.

(8) Obtain and maintain all statistics relating to births, marriages and deaths, as required by law.

(9) Be custodian of the City Seal.

(10) Perform all duties and exercise all power incumbent upon or vested in City clerks, generally, which are not inconsistent with the City Charter.

(11) Maintain in his/her office a public information service, to furnish information concerning the City government, relative to the public service.

(a) All requests for information shall be complied with promptly and courteously, provided that the required information is available in the office of the City Clerk. Otherwise, the City Clerk shall refer an individual applicant to the proper agency of the City for such information as is required, and such agency shall supply the same as quickly as reasonably possible, consistent with the extent or type of information requested.

(b) Nothing herein shall be construed to require the City Clerk to supply or to request any other department to supply the type of information which either state law or the public interest requires to be kept confidential, nor shall any information be prepared or supplied when the cost of so doing would result in increased expense to the City; provided, however, that the estimated cost shall be supplied at the expense of the applicant, subject to final adjustment on the basis of actual cost, or at an agreed-upon charge paid by the applicant, in advance, to the City Clerk or the department undertaking such extra expense.

(12) Account for all public money received by him/her, in such manner as the Director of Finance may prescribe.

(13) Notify promptly all department heads of Council actions of concern to them.

(14) Issue all state licenses and collect the fees required of him/her to so issue and maintain records of the same.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Former Subsection B(15), regarding the City Clerk's duty to compute, issue and collect excise fees on motor vehicles, was repealed 6-5-2000. See now § 4-14C(3).

C. Division of Welfare.

(1) There shall be a Division of Public Welfare in the Office of the City Clerk, the head of which shall be the Director of Welfare, who shall be appointed by the City Administrator upon the recommendation of the City Clerk.

(2) Duties of the Director of Welfare. The Director of Welfare shall be the General Assistance Administrator under Chapter 112, General Assistance Program, and shall:

(a) Determine the eligibility of each applicant for receipt of general assistance benefits. He/she must consider all applicants, set up interviews and certify or deny the applicant, according to uniform standards.

(b) Distribute vouchers under general assistance benefits, giving assistance for fuel, rent, food, medicine and light bills in an emergency, as he/she deems appropriate and according to uniform standards. He/she must make out reports for general assistance, pursuant to all applicable laws and regulations.

(c) Refer citizens needing assistance from other than the City to the proper federal, state or private agencies.

(d) Exercise all powers and perform all the duties confirmed or imposed by the state law upon overseers of the poor.

(e) Be responsible for the sound fiscal management of his/her Department.

§ 4-16 Police Department.

A. Establishment.

[Amended 5-3-2004]

(1) There shall be a Police Department, the head of which shall be the Police Chief. The Chief of Police shall be appointed by the City Administrator and confirmed by the City Council. There shall also be a Canine Control Officer, who shall be directly responsible to the Chief.

[Amended 10-3-2005]

(2) The number of regular police officers shall be determined by the City Council, and each police officer shall be appointed by the City Administrator after hearing recommendations from the Police Chief. Special police officers shall have all the powers vested in the regular City police officers. The special police officers shall, however, serve only when and as specifically required by the Police Chief whenever called upon, as the City Administrator may determine. No special police officer shall be on duty as a special policeman police officer at any time or place without being ordered to do so by the Police Chief.

(3) The Police Chief may, in his or her judgment, provide additional services for the convenience and safety of the public that are not otherwise required by law, ordinance or statute. These services may include providing officers to maintain order at public or private establishments (known as an “outside assignment”); directing traffic for utility work occurring within or along the public ways (“outside assignment”); or providing noncriminal fingerprinting services for individuals required to provide fingerprints for employment or other reasons. The Council will establish these types of fees after a public hearing.

B. Duties of the Police Chief. The Police Chief shall be the commanding officer of the police force.

(1) The Chief shall:

(a) Be responsible for the enforcement of law and order.

(b) Direct the police work of the City.

(c) Arrange for the attendance of one or more police officers at every fire, to preserve order and to prevent theft and destruction of property, at the request of the Fire Chief.

(d) Cause the streets, ways and lands of the City to be inspected regularly and cause the removal of all nuisances, obstructions or impediments therein, causing offenders to be prosecuted when necessary to abate such nuisances.

(e) Cause to be observed and reported immediately to the Director of Public Works all defects and repairs required in streets and sidewalks.

[Amended 10-7-2002]

(f) Receive and deliver all notices and papers to members of the City Council and to the City Administrator and officers appointed by either, when requested by the City Clerk or the City Administrator, and make due return thereof.

(g) Be responsible for the maintenance and care of all property used by the Police Department.

(h) Investigate or cause to be investigated the cause and circumstances of any accident for which the City may be liable, instruct all police officers to report to him/her such accidents and notify the City Administrator promptly of all such accidents. Whenever the attention of any police officer shall, in any manner, have been called to any accident for which the City may be liable, it shall be the duty of such police officer forthwith to communicate such facts and information as he/she may have to the Police Chief.

(i) Investigate promptly all applicants for any license or permit when application requires certification by the Police Chief and either deliver promptly to the City Clerk a certificate approving such license or permit or promptly advise, in writing, the City Clerk of his/her refusal to so certify.

(j) Be responsible for the sound fiscal management of his/her Department.

(2) The Chief of Police is authorized to represent the City in District Court in the prosecution of alleged violations of those ordinances which the Police Department is empowered to enforce, if he is duly certified in accordance with 25 M.R.S.A. § 2803, Subsection 3A.[1] The Chief of Police may designate any officer under his command to perform this prosecutorial function, if that officer is certified under 25 M.R.S.A. § 2803, Subsection 3A.

[1] Editor's Note: Said section was repealed by Chapter 521 of the Laws of 1989. See now 25 M.R.S.A. § 2803-A.

C. Canine Control Officer. The Police Chief shall, with the approval of the City Administrator, designate one or more persons to be titled "Canine Control Officer," whose duties shall be to enforce state and local laws regarding dogs.

D. Harbor Master. It shall be the duty of the Harbor Master to enforce the rules and regulations enacted by the City Council or the State of Maine for the keeping of convenient channels for the passage of vessels in the harbors and waterways located in the City of Saco and the supervision of the boundary lines of such portions of the harbors as assigned for anchorage by the City Council; and to enforce the laws of the State of Maine and Coast Guard regulating the operation of motor vessels.[2]

[Amended 10-3-2005]

[2] Editor's Note: See also Ch. 118, Harbor and Waterfront.

§ 4-17 Fire Department.

A. Establishment. There shall be a Fire Department, the head of which shall be the Fire Chief. The Fire Chief shall be appointed by the City Administrator and confirmed by the City Council.

B. Appointments. The number of regular fire fighters on the force shall be determined by the City Council. Each fire fighter shall be appointed by the City Administrator upon hearing the recommendations of the Fire Chief. Call fire fighters shall have all the powers vested in the regular City firemen, but call fire fighters shall serve only when and as specifically required by the Fire Chief and shall function only under the direction of the Fire Chief. Call fire fighters shall assist the Fire Chief whenever called upon, as the City Administrator may determine. No call fire fighter shall be on duty as a special fireman at any time or place without being ordered to do so by the Fire Chief.

C. Duties of the Fire Chief. The Fire Chief is charged with fire prevention and extinguishment of fires, the protection of life and property against fire and the removal of fire hazards. The Fire Chief shall be responsible for the care and maintenance of all property used by the Fire Department. He shall inspect promptly all premises for which a license or permit is applied which requires certification by the Fire Chief and either deliver promptly to the City Clerk a certificate approving the license or permit applied for or promptly advise the City Clerk of his refusal to so certify. The Fire Chief shall also be held responsible for the enforcement of all state laws and local ordinances which are fire-related. He/she shall administer all tests to prospective employees and shall recommend to the City Administrator the appointment of those deemed most qualified. The Fire Chief shall be responsible for the sound fiscal management of the Department.

§ 4-18 Department of Building Inspection and Code Enforcement.

A. Establishment. There shall be a Department of Building Inspection and Code Enforcement, the head of which shall be the Building Inspector. The Building Inspector shall be appointed by the City Administrator, with Council confirmation. The Building Inspector shall be assisted by a Plumbing and Electrical Inspector, who will also be appointed by the City Administrator. In addition, these Inspectors will coordinate their work with the Fire Chief to assure that all safety regulations are being complied with.

B. Duties of the Building Inspector. The Building Inspector shall:

(1) Be responsible for the issuing of permits to build, alter, move or erect all buildings, signs or structures, to install equipment or to occupy. The Building Inspector shall also be responsible for the overseeing of all duties performed by the Plumbing and Electrical Inspector. The Building Inspector shall inspect existing buildings to ensure their continuing safety. He/she shall perform related duties at the direction of the City Administrator.

(2) Be responsible for the sound fiscal management of the Department.

C. Duties of the Electrical Inspector. The Electrical Inspector shall be responsible for the issuing of all electrical permits and shall report to the Building Inspector and be under his/her direction.

D. Duties of the Plumbing Inspector. The Plumbing Inspector shall be responsible for the issuing of all plumbing permits and shall report to the Building Inspector and be under his/her direction.

E. The above Inspectors shall also be responsible for the enforcing of building, zoning or other related ordinances and shall enforce these ordinances by notifying violators, in writing, that violations must be corrected. If the violation continues past the time prescribed by state or local law, the Inspector shall take the necessary action to enforce compliance with the law.

§ 4-19 Department of Public Works.

A. Establishment. There shall be a Department of Public Works. The head of this Department shall be the Director of Public Works, who shall be appointed by the City Administrator with confirmation from the City Council. The number of employees shall be determined by the City Council and each employee shall be appointed by the City Administrator, after hearing recommendations of the Director.

B. Duties of the Director of Public Works. The Director of Public Works shall:

(1) Be responsible for the administration and professional work in the supervision of the City's public works and collection systems operation, except treatment plants.

[Amended 10-7-2002; 1-22-2013]

(2) Be responsible for directing all phases of municipal public works, except treatment plants, including landfills, sewers and drains, streets, motor vehicle maintenance and garbage and refuse collection and disposal, transfer station and recycling collection and disposal and snowplowing and removal.

[Amended 10-7-2002; 1-22-2013]

(3) Be responsible for aggressively seeking all funds from any sources owed to this Department.

(4) Be responsible for researching and implementation of improvements to the operation of the Department in his/her charge.

(5) Be responsible for the formulation of policies and coordinate activities in accordance with general policies established by the City Council and City Administrator.

(6) Be responsible for the supervision over unskilled, semiskilled, skilled and supervisory maintenance and construction employees.

(7) [1]Be responsible for the sound fiscal management of his/her Department.

[1] Editor's Note: Former Subsection B(7), regarding the inspection of plants, added 10-7-2002, and Subsection B(8), regarding the development of efficient plans and procedures, added 10-7-2002, were repealed and former Subsection B(9) was redesignated Subsection B(7) on 1-22-2013.

§ 4-20 Water Resource Recovery Division. [1]

[Added 1-22-2013]

A. Establishment. There shall be a Water Resource Recovery Division. The head of this department shall be the Director of the Water Resource Recovery Division, who shall be appointed by the City Administrator with confirmation from the City Council. The number of employees shall be determined by the City Council, and each employee shall be appointed by the City Administrator, after hearing recommendations of the Director.

B. Duties of the Director of the Water Resource Recovery Division. The Director of the Water Resource Recovery Division shall:

(1) Be responsible for the administration, operation and maintenance of sewage treatment and pumping stations located in the City of Saco.

(2) Exercise direct authority over all plant functions and personnel in accordance with approved policies and procedures.

(3) Inspect plants regularly, analyze and evaluate operation and maintenance functions and initiate or recommend new or improved practices.

(4) Develop plans and procedures to ensure efficient plant operations.

(5) Recommend plant improvements and additions, while coordinating data and proposing the review or approval of operation reports and budget requests.

(6) Control expenditures of budgeted funds and request approval for major expenditures, if required.

(7) Recommend the specifications for major equipment and material purchases and organize and direct activities or plant personnel, including training programs.

(8) Be responsible for the sound fiscal management of his/her department.

[1] Editor's Note: Former § 4-20, Department of Wastewater Treatment Plants, was repealed 10-7-2002.

§ 4-21 Department of Parks and Recreation.

A. Establishment. This Department shall be divided into the following two Divisions:

(1) The Division of Parks, the head of which shall be the Director of Parks and Recreation, who shall be responsible for the maintenance of the City's park system and recreation facilities. He/she must also act as the City's Tree Warden, supervising the care of the shade trees.

(2) The Division of Recreation, the head of which shall be the Director of Parks and Recreation, who shall be responsible for the administrative work in planning and directing the municipal recreation program. He/she must be responsible for the planning and implementing of recreation programs so that they are suitable to the needs and interests of the City of Saco.

B. The Director of Parks and Recreation shall be responsible for the sound fiscal management of this Department.

§ 4-22 Department of Emergency Management. [1]

[Amended 1-8-2001]

A. Establishment. There shall be a Department of Emergency Management, the head of which shall be appointed by the City Administrator with the approval of the City Council.

B. Duties. The Director of Emergency Management shall:

(1) Be responsible for the supervision of the Civil Emergency Management program within the City and the City's cooperative action with the York County Emergency Management Agency and emergency management units of adjacent cities and the Emergency Management Office for the State of Maine.

(2) Appoint members, who shall serve without pay, and coordinate the organization, training, public education staff and the emergency operation of Emergency Management.

(3) Develop the local capabilities for effective action in response to natural or man-made disaster.

[1] Editor's Note: See also Art. VI, Emergency Management, of this chapter.

§ 4-23 Department of Assessing.

A. Establishment. There shall be a Department of Assessing, the head of which shall be the Assessor, who shall be appointed by the City Administrator and confirmed by the City Council.

B. Duties.

(1) The Assessor's qualifications and authority come from state statutes and cannot be controlled by the City. The City cannot, by vote, increase, diminish or vary the duties imposed on the Assessor by statutes.

(2) The Assessor is responsible for the sound fiscal management of the Department and shall exercise all powers and perform all duties confirmed or imposed by state laws upon assessors.

§ 4-24 Legal Division.

A. There shall be a City Solicitor who shall be appointed by the City Administrator and confirmed by the City Council. The City Solicitor shall serve at the will of both the Mayor and the City Council. The City Solicitor shall serve as chief legal advisor to the Mayor and the City Council, the City Administrator and all City departments, boards, agencies, committees and commissions. The City Solicitor shall represent the City in all legal proceedings and shall perform any other duties prescribed by ordinance and law. The City Council shall have the right to employ or retain special attorneys, if it deems it to be in the best interests of the City.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Said section was amended November 1996, per ballot, and is effective 7-1-1997.

B. Duties. The City Solicitor shall:

(1) Draft all instruments which may be required of him/her by any ordinance or by the Mayor, City Council, City Administrator or any other City official and which, by law, custom or agreement, are to be drawn at the expense of the City.

(2) Prosecute or defend, as the case may be, all suits in which the City may be a party in interest; and shall do all and every professional act incident to the office which may be required of him/her by the City government or by any joint or special committee thereof or any order or ordinance of the City Council.

(3) Serve as chief legal advisor to the Mayor and the City Council, the City Administrator and all City department heads, boards, agencies, committees and commissions.

(4) Render professional advice to the overseers of the poor or other officers of the City government who may require his/her opinion on any subject touching the duties of their respective offices.

(5) Account for and pay over to the City Treasurer all moneys received by him/her for costs in any prosecution or defense wherein the City is or may be interested.

(6) Perform such additional duties as may be presented by the City Council. Nothing herein shall preclude the City Council from hiring alternate counsel as it may choose.

C. Compensation. He/she shall receive for his/her services such compensation as the City Council may determine.

D. Annual report. The City Solicitor shall annually, before the close of the municipal year, make a report, in writing, to the City Council concerning the unfinished business in his/her Department.

§ 4-25 Division of Public Health.

A. Establishment. There shall be a Division of Public Health, the head of which shall be a person appointed by the City Administrator, as provided under Article V of the City Charter. Subject to budget limitations, the Health Administrator shall have one or more health assistants. There shall also be one or more Plumbing Inspectors, appointed by the City Administrator, to be under the direction of the Building Inspector, but who will be used on loan by the Division of Public Health when deemed necessary by the Health Administrator.

B. Duties of the Health Administrator. The Health Administrator shall have charge and control of all functions involved in protecting and preserving the public health, with the exception of supervising contract administration for health services, which shall be the responsibility of the City Administrator or his/her appointed delegate. The Health Administrator shall have all powers provided by state law or City ordinance relative thereto. Among other powers, the Health Administrator shall exercise the function of:

(1) Communicable disease control, which shall include the power of quarantine and detention and the adoption of such other measures as will prevent the spreading or aid in the prevention of communicable diseases.

(2) Sanitation, which shall include inspection of the preparation, manufacture, storage and sale of all articles and commodities intended for human consumption and the regulation of all matters pertaining to the sanitary condition affecting the public health.

(3) Nursing, which shall consist of the inspection of the operation of all private or public infant, preschool and school hygiene programs, and their direct operation, if and when so authorized by ordinance.

(4) The prompt inspection of any premises for which a license has been applied and which requires certification by the health officer. The Health Administrator shall deliver to the City Clerk promptly a certificate to the effect that the health laws are complied with and the proper sanitary conditions exist or promptly advise, in writing, the City Clerk of his/her refusal to so certify.

C. Complaints. The Health Administrator shall receive and investigate all complaints made by any of the inhabitants of Saco concerning nuisances dangerous to life and health which are known or believed by him/her to exist and, personally or by appointed agents, inspect and examine the same. All owners and occupants shall permit such sanitary examination. The Health Administrator shall have the power and duty to order the suppression and removal of nuisances and conditions detrimental to life and health which exist within the limits of the City.

D. Plumbing Inspector. The Plumbing Inspector or Inspectors shall perform all such duties as may be required by state law and by ordinances of the City.