A. Established511. The Town Attorney shall be the head of the Legal Department of the Town. In this respect, the Town Attorney shall have the power to employ bond counsel and such other assistant Town Attorneys, and any special assistants required, all of whom shall be attorneys admitted to practice law in this State, and who shall be responsible to the Town Attorney.
B. Appointment of the Town Attorney512. The Mayor shall appoint the Town Attorney as set forth in § 8-2.A of this Charter. The Town Attorney shall serve a term coterminous with that of the appointing Mayor, subject to the provisions of § 3-10.A (2) and § 8-2.B of this Charter and until a successor shall be appointed and shall have qualified.
(1) The Mayor shall, subject to the approval of the Council, propose the rates of compensation to be received by the Town Attorney and assistants513.
C. Qualifications514. The Town Attorney shall be an attorney admitted to practice law in this State and who shall have been practicing for at least five (5) years.
D. Powers and Duties. The Town Attorney shall be the legal advisor of the Mayor, and all other Departments, Public Officials515, Boards, Commissions or agencies of the Town, in all matters affecting the interests of the Town516. In this respect, the Town Attorney shall:
(1) appear for and protect the rights of the Town in all actions, suits or proceedings brought by or against it or any of its Departments, Public Officials517, Boards, Commissions or agencies518.
(2) have the power, with the approval of the Mayor and subject to such rules and limitations as the Council may from time to time adopt, to appeal from orders, decisions or judgments in such cases and to compromise and settle any claims by or against the Town subject to approval of the Mayor519.
(3) prepare or approve the form of all contracts or other instruments to which the Town is a party or in which it has an interest, and shall prepare all codifications of Ordinances as may be required by the General Statutes or the Council520.
(4) review, at least every five (5) years, the Ordinances and Statutory Resolutions of the Town to ensure compliance with the General Statutes and this Charter and to make recommendations to the Legislative Council accordingly521.
E. Opinions of the Town Attorney. Upon written request of the Mayor or a member of the Council, the Town Attorney shall furnish them with written opinions on any questions of Law with respect to any Town matter, including, but not limited to interpretations pertaining to the applicability and enforcement of the provisions of this Charter. The opinions of the Town Attorney shall be indexed and kept in the office of the Town Attorney. Said book shall be a matter of public record and the property of the Town and shall be delivered by the Town Attorney to a successor upon resignation, removal, or the expiration of the term of office. Said opinions shall be determinative with respect to interpretations of law and the Charter and the actions of the Officials, Boards and Commission of the Town
522.
509 1983 Charter Chapter VI.
510 1983 Charter 6-1.
511 2011 modification of 1983 Charter 6-1 (third sentence).
512 2011 modification of 1983 Charter 6-1 (first sentence); in lieu of the following: "...shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to the approval of the Council, and may be removed by the Mayor".
513 1983 Charter 6-1 (fourth sentence).
514 1983 Charter 6-1 (second sentence).
515 "Public Officials" replaces "officers".
516 1983 Charter 6-1 (first half of the fifth sentence).
517 "Public Officials" replaces "officers".
518 1983 Charter 6-1 (sixth sentence).
519 1983 Charter 6-1 (seventh sentence).
520 1983 Charter 6-1 (eighth sentence).
521 Charter Revision of 2011.
522 2011 substantial modification of 1983 Charter 6-1 (second half of fifth sentence) by permitting a written request by any member of the Legislative Council and the following "...including, but not limited to interpretations pertaining to the applicability and enforcement of the provisions of this Charter". Also the following clause: "The opinions of the Town Attorney shall be indexed and kept in the office of the Town Attorney. Said book shall be a matter of public record and the property of the Town and shall be delivered by the Town Attorney to a successor upon resignation, removal, or the expiration of the term of office. Said opinions shall be determinative with respect to interpretations of law and the Charter and the actions of the Officials, Boards and Commission of the Town."