(A) Prior to the creation of the office of Director of Law, the Legal Advisor shall be engaged by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council by a majority vote of the members of Council pursuant to a contract with an individual attorney or law firm. The person or firm serving as Village Solicitor under the village statutory plan of government on the effective date of this Charter shall continue until other arrangements are made by: execution of a contract with an attorney or law firm upon the expiration of any existing contract; or the creation of a Department of Law, pursuant to Division (B) of this Section, to be headed by a Director of Law.
(B) Upon the creation of a Department of Law, by ordinance or resolution passed by Council, the Mayor shall appoint a Director of Law pursuant to Section 3.09 of this Charter with the approval of the Council by a majority vote of the Council. The Director of Law shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor and the Council and he or she may be removed, without cause, by the Mayor and the Council pursuant to Section 3.09 of this Charter.
(C) The Director of Law, or any attorney engaged by the Mayor and/or Council, need not be an elector or resident of Obetz, but shall be an attorney-at-law duly authorized to practice law in the State of Ohio.
(D) The Director of Law, or the attorney or law firm engaged, shall be the legal advisor, prosecuting attorney and counsel for Obetz, and subject to the direction of Council and the Mayor, shall represent Obetz in all proceedings in Court or before any administrative board or body. The Director of Law or the attorney or law firm engaged shall perform all other powers, duties and functions now or hereafter imposed on directors of law under the laws of Ohio; and shall perform other duties as required by this Charter, by ordinance, or as directed by the Mayor.
(E) The Council may provide for assistants and special counsel to the Director of Law or the attorney or law firm engaged. All assistants shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the Law Director. The assistants shall be responsible to the Director of Law or the attorney or law firm engaged and, when authorized by the Mayor, may exercise all or any part of the powers, duties and functions granted to the Director of Law under this Section.
(F) In the event of a vacancy in the office of the Director of Law, if such an office has been created by the Council, a successor shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council. The Mayor shall designate a qualified person to serve as Acting Director of Law in the case of the temporary absence or disability of the Director of Law or any other attorney engaged by the Council prior to the creation of the Department of Law.