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Home > Departments > City Solicitor
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The City of Westfield Law Department was created in 1991 upon the adoption of Ordinance No. 1067, now codified at City of Westfield Code of Ordinances Chapter 2, Sections 2-211, 2-212. The ordinance calls for the City Solicitor, traditionally a part time position which, by City Charter, is appointed by the Mayor and serves at his pleasure without City Council confirmation, to head the department. The City Solicitor oversees a staff of three attorneys, two of whom are full time assistant city solicitors and one of whom is a city prosecutor who may serve full time or part time. The staffing of the department is completed with two clerical positions and a legal intern.
During fiscal year 2002 the Law Department was funded with a staff of two attorneys with clerical staff consisting of one full time and one part time legal secretary. The City Solicitor position has remained unstaffed since the adoption of the ordinance in 1991 as has the City Prosecutor position. The Legal Intern position, funded intermittently since the department was established, was unfunded throughout fiscal year 2002.
The purpose of the Law Department is derived from the duties specified for the city solicitor. The city solicitor shall be legal advisor to the mayor, city council, boards, commissions and department heads. He shall defend the city in all legal actions and prosecute actions on behalf of the city. He shall prepare and approve legal documents, give opinions on legal points and represent the city as required before the courts, county commissioners, state departments and legislative committees. He shall, by statute, represent the city assessors in proceedings before the state appellate tax board.
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