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Section 7.01. - Appointment and Term.#
There shall be a Town Solicitor who shall be appointed by the Town Council to serve at the pleasure of the Town Council. The Town Solicitor, with the approval of the Town Council, may appoint one or more Assistant Town Solicitors, to be compensated at a rate set by the Town Council.
Section 7.02. - Qualifications.#
The Town Solicitor (and any Assistant Town Solicitor) shall be an attorney-at-law in good standing who has been admitted to the practice of law in this State. The Town Solicitor shall have a minimum of five (5) years experience as a practicing attorney. Any Assistant Solicitor shall have a minimum of three (3) years experience as a practicing attorney. He/she need not be a resident of the Town. The Town Solicitor and any Assistant Town Solicitor shall not hold any other office or position in the Town Government, except that of Acting Judge of Probate when so necessary.
Section 7.03. - Duties.#
The Town Solicitor shall serve as chief legal advisor to all town departments, commissions, offices or agencies, including the Town Council, and the Manager. The School Committee may retain its own independent legal counsel as they deem necessary and convenient. The Town Solicitor shall appear for and protect the rights of the Town in all actions, suits, or proceedings, civil or criminal, in law or equity, brought by or against it, or for or against any of its departments, commissions, offices or agencies, including the Town Council, and the Manager and the School Committee. The Town Solicitor shall also perform such other duties, appropriate to his/her office, as the Town Council and the Manager may require. The Town Solicitor shall examine and recommend the form of all ordinances and resolutions, of all invitations to bid, contracts, and other legal documents issued by any department, commission, office or agency of the Town.
(Elec. of 11-8-2016)
Section 7.04. - Written Opinions.#
All written opinions of the Town Solicitor furnished to the Town Council, the Manager, and all departments, commissions, offices and agencies of the Town shall be filed with the Town Clerk and shall become a public record. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to abridge any powers now, or which in the future may be, conferred upon Town Solicitors by State law.