No action or proceeding, civil or criminal, pending at the time this Charter takes effect, brought by or against the City or any office, department or agency or officer thereof, shall be affected or abated by the adoption of this Charter or by anything herein contained; and no such action or proceeding shall abate by reason of the fact that functions, powers and duties of any office, department or agency or officer party thereto may by or under this Charter be assigned or transferred to another office, department or agency or officer, but in that event the same may be prosecuted or defended by the head of the office, department or agency to which such functions, powers and duties have been assigned or transferred by or under this Charter.