The City attorney shall be a member in good standing of the West Virginia State Bar. He/she shall be appointed by the City Manager to serve for an indefinite term, only with the consent and ratification of Council. The City Attorney shall be a contracted employee. He/she shall perform all duties and exercise all powers which shall be conferred upon him/her by any ordinance or resolution of the Council and, except as otherwise provided in this Charter, he/she shall have the power and it shall be his/her duty to:
(1) Act as legal adviser and counsel for the City Council and for all administrative boards and officers thereof with respect to their official duties. Upon request, he/she shall furnish to the City Council or to such officers a written opinion upon any question concerning their respective powers and duties.
(2) Prosecute and defend all suits for or against the City, and prepare all ordinances and all contracts, bonds or other writings in which the City is concerned, and endorse on each his/her approval of the form and correctness thereof.
(3) Prosecute all cases brought before or appealed from the police court, and perform the same duties so far as they are applicable thereto as are required by law of prosecuting attorneys.
Whenever the exigencies of the business of the City require such action, the City Manager shall have the right to employ special counsel to assist the City attorney.