[Amended 12-10-2019 by Ord. No. MC-5232]
There shall be a Law Department, the head of which shall be
the City Attorney, who shall generally control, supervise and be responsible
for the operation of the Department of Law. He/She shall be appointed
pursuant to the charter and shall receive such compensation as shall
be provided by ordinance.
The position of City Attorney shall be full-time and shall be
directly responsible to the Mayor.
The City Attorney shall be the legal advisor to the Mayor, to
the Council and to all departments, except as may be otherwise provided
by the Charter. He/she shall prosecute and defend actions and proceedings
by and against the City and every department thereof. In furtherance
of these general powers and without limitation thereto, he/she shall:
A. Advise the Council as to the form and sufficiency of all ordinances
and resolutions prior to their passage.
B. Review and approve all contracts, deeds, documents and instruments
prior to the execution thereof by or on behalf of the City.
C. Conduct appeals from orders, decisions or judgments affecting any
interest of the City as he/she may, in his/her discretion, determine
to be necessary or desirable or as directed by the Mayor and Council.
D. Subject to the approval of the Council, have power to enter into
any agreement, compromise or settlement of any litigation or claims
by or against the City and to execute any releases, agreements, consents
or stipulations necessary thereto.
E. Render opinions, in writing, upon any question of law submitted to
him/her by the Mayor, the Council, the Business Administrator or the
head of any department with respect to their official powers and duties.
F. Maintain a record of all actions, suits, proceedings and matters
which relate to the City's interests and report thereon, from time
to time, as the Mayor or Council may require.
G. Conduct prosecutions for crimes, offenses and violations cognizable
by the Municipal Court of the City, except such crimes and offenses
as it may be the duty of the County Prosecutor to prosecute, including
violations of ordinances of the City, complaints of any department
under state law and violations of rules or regulations duly promulgated
by any department.
H. Have such other and different functions, powers and duties as may
be provided by the Charter or ordinances of the City.
I. Act as counsel to the Affirmative Action Review Council
and advise that Council and other branches of City government concerning
matters involving affirmative action and employment of City residents.
[Added 9-8-1994 by Ord. No. MC-3032]
J. Have control over the Bureau of City Properties, and the day-to-day
operations of the Bureau shall be managed by the Real Estate Officer.
The Bureau shall be responsible for the management and inventory of
all City-owned real property.
[Added 12-27-2011 by Ord.
No. MC-4655]
[Added 7-11-1991 by Ord. No. MC-2670; amended 9-8-1994 by Ord. No. MC-3032]
There shall be an Office of Risk Management whose function shall
be as follows:
A. To advise and demonstrate to the appropriate municipal officers the
existence of casualty risks to property and person, hazards, damages
and situations which could result in the institution of legal actions
and claims against the municipality.
B. To act as an adjunct in the functioning and operation of any self-insurance
program adopted by the City covering any type of risk for which the
municipality has qualified and stands as its own insurer in whole
or part.
C. To investigate facts and circumstances and assist any relevant municipal
department to determine the scope and amount of damages caused or
suffered by the City.
D. To give advice as solicited to the Business Administrator or the
Insurance Commission for the purchase of insurance coverage of any
type.
The City Attorney shall appoint a First Assistant City Attorney
and Assistant City Attorneys as he/she may require, with the approval
of the Mayor and with the consent of the Council of the City of Camden.
The City Attorney shall have the authority to appoint such Assistant
City Attorneys assigned to the Mayor and to the Council and to such
other divisions or offices of the municipal government as he/she may
deem proper, with the approval of the Mayor and with the consent of
the Council of the City of Camden. Such appointees shall serve during
the term of Office of the City Attorney appointing them. He/she may
also designate any of them as City Prosecutor, who, under the supervision
of the City Attorney, shall conduct prosecutions for violations tried
in the Municipal Court.