The Solicitor shall be the legal advisor, attorney, and counsel for the Municipality, and for all offices, departments, divisions, bureaus, boards, commissions and bodies of the Municipality in connection with municipal affairs; and, subject to the direction of the Council, shall represent the Municipality in all proceedings in Court or before any administrative board or body. He shall perform such other duties consistent with his office as may be required by this Charter, by ordinance or resolution of the Council, or by the general laws of the State of Ohio. The Solicitor shall be the prosecuting attorney on behalf of the Municipality, and shall prosecute cases brought before courts of competent jurisdiction. He shall be responsible for the preparation of all contracts, agreements, and other writings to which the Municipality is a party or in which the Municipality is concerned; and he shall endorse on each such document his approval as to the legal form thereof. Upon authorization of the Council, he shall defend all actions against officials and employees of the Municipality in either their official or individual capacities. Upon the request of a member of the Council, the Mayor-President of Council, the Manager, the chairman of any board or commission, or the head of any municipal department or division, he shall furnish his written opinion on the question or request, or his advice on any matter contained in such request, provided, however, that the Solicitor may require such request or question to be succinctly stated in writing.
The Council may provide for such assistants and special counsel to the Solicitor as it shall deem advisable. All assistants shall be responsible to the Solicitor; and, when authorized by him, may exercise all or any part of the powers and duties of the Solicitor as set forth in this section. Special counsel shall perform those functions and exercise those powers as authorized by and in the manner provided by the Council. Assistants to the Solicitor and special counsel shall be selected by the Solicitor, with the advice and consent of the Council.