The Law
Department, as presently constituted, consists of the Law Director
and Prosecutor, and First and Second Assistants. All are lawyers
with substantial experience and dedicated to service to the
community.
The Law
Department serves as legal advisor to the Mayor, Council, all city
departments, and all Boards and Commissions. These lawyers also
represent the City in all legal proceedings, both civil and
criminal, prepare or review all legislation and contracts, and
review all other legal documents that concern the municipal
corporation.
At all
times, but especially in these difficult economic times, the Law
Department makes every reasonable effort to resolve disputes without
litigation or, if those efforts are not successful, to retain the
litigation in house and thereby avoid the use of outside counsel and
the legal costs associated therewith. Certain specialized areas of
the law mandate the use of outside counsel, such as bond work, and,
where required, outside counsel will be employed. Some matters are
primarily handled by our insurance defense counsel in conjunction
with the Law Department. |
