ARTICLE VII
ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENTS

§7.01   DEPARTMENT OF LAW.

   (A)   There is hereby created the Department of Law to be headed by a Director of Law. The Director of Law shall be appointed by the Council by a vote of at least a majority of its members. The Director of Law shall serve at the pleasure of the Council and may be removed, without cause, by a vote of a majority of the members of the Council.

   (B)   The Director of Law shall be an attorney-at-law duly authorized to practice law in the State of Ohio. The Director of Law may serve as legal counsel to any school district, county, township, other municipality, or other political subdivision, district or unit of the federal, State or local governments and may receive additional compensation therefor. The Director of Law may also engage in the private practice of law and may hold other public or private employment.

   (C)   The Director of Law shall be the legal advisor, prosecuting attorney and counsel for the City, and, subject to the direction of the Council, shall represent the City in all proceedings in Court or before any administrative board or body. The Director of Law shall perform all other powers, duties and functions now or hereafter imposed on City Directors of Law under the laws of Ohio; and shall perform other duties as required by this Charter, by ordinance or resolution, or as directed by the City Manager; provided that such laws, ordinances, resolutions or directions by the Manager are not in conflict with and are consistent with this Charter, and further provided that the directions of the City Manager are not in conflict with and are consistent with the laws of Ohio and the ordinances and resolutions of the City.

   (D)   The Council may provide for assistants and special counsel to the Director of Law. All assistants shall be appointed by the Director of Law. The Assistants shall be responsible to the Director of Law and when authorized, may exercise all or any part of the powers, duties and functions granted to the Director of Law under this section. Special counsel may be employed by the Council to perform powers, duties and functions authorized by and in the manner provided by the Council.

   (E)   In the event of a vacancy in the office of Director of Law, the Council may appoint a qualified person to serve as Acting Director of Law until the vacancy is filled. The Director of Law may designate, by a letter filed with the Clerk of Council, a qualified person to serve as Acting Director of Law in the event the Director of Law is temporarily absent or disabled. The Acting Director of Law appointed or designated pursuant to this Division shall exercise the powers, duties and functions of the Director of Law while serving as Acting Director of Law.
(Amended 6-8-82.)