The Director of Law shall be appointed by the Mayor subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the members of Council. He or she may be removed from office by the Mayor, but such removal shall not take place without the concurrence of five (5) of the members of Council. Council shall provide for such assistants to the Director of Law as shall from time to time be deemed to be necessary and such assistants shall be appointed by the Director of Law and shall serve at his or her pleasure.
The Council shall determine the compensation of the Director of Law and all assistants, which may be changed from time to time.
When provided for by Council, the Mayor in lieu of appointing a Director of Law, shall enter into a contract for the employment of a firm of attorneys to perform the functions of the Director of Law, which contract shall provide for the compensation to be received and shall be for a period of time not extending beyond the term of office of the Mayor.
Neither the Director of Law nor his or her assistants nor any firm, appointed or employed as herein provided, shall be required to reside within the Municipality.
The Director of Law shall have the management and supervision of the Department of Law and shall perform all duties imposed upon him or her by this Charter, by the Constitution of the State and by any applicable statutes. He or she shall be the legal advisor of the Municipality and all of its officials, departments, boards or commissions and except as herein otherwise provided shall prosecute and defend all actions and proceedings in which the Municipality is a party or in which it has an interest. Council may from time to time authorize the employment by the Mayor of special counsel for particular matters.
No person shall act as Director of Law unless duly admitted to practice law in the State of Ohio.
(Amended 11-7-00)