A. Appointment and Qualifications. The City Council, by a majority vote of its total membership, shall select, appoint, contract with, and fix the compensation of a qualified individual for the position of Law Director. The Law Director shall be an attorney licensed to practice in the State of Ohio on the date of appointment.
B. Powers and Duties of the Law Director. The Law Director shall be the chief legal officer of the City and the head of the Department of Law and shall have the following powers, duties, and functions:
(1) Act as legal advisor to, and attorney for, the City and all of its departments, agencies, officials, and employees, as directed by Council.
(2) Review every proposed ordinance and resolution to be presented to the Council on the questions of correct legal form, possible contradictions with existing ordinances, or conflict with the Charter or provisions of the Constitution of the State of Ohio.
(3) Prepare all contracts, surety or indemnification bonds or other instruments in writing in which the City is concerned and provide his or her endorsement thereon for approval only as to the form and correctness thereof, provided that bonds, notes and other debt obligations are exempted from this requirement, and no contract or other written instrument shall be valid until the Law Director gives endorsement thereon.
(4) Prosecute all misdemeanor offenses in the Xenia Municipal Court. The Council may authorize the position of City Prosecutor, who shall be under the supervision and direction of the Law Director.
(5) Appoint, employ, or hire employees of the Law Department, when such positions are authorized by Council, and suspend, remove, or otherwise discipline such employees in accordance with the City’s Personnel Manual.
(6) With the consent of Council, employ special counsel to handle particular legal matters for the City. Contracts for special or outside legal counsel may be executed by the Law Director or, upon Council approval by the City Manager, and such special counsel may, when authorized by the Law Director, exercise all or any part of the powers, duties and functions granted to the Law Director under this section.
(7) Perform such other duties as Council may require or as provided by law.