2005-BYLAW REVIEW COMMITTEE - Laserfiche WebLink

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§5-18. Accommodations. The Selectmen shall provide suitable space for the Town Counsel, as head of the Legal Department, in the Town Office Building. All books, records and documents assembled by the Town Counsel in connection with the Town's legal affairs shall be kept in files properly indexed in the offices of the Legal Department for convenient reference by the Selectmen and the Town Counsel's successor in office. l+ §5-19. Attendance at Town Meetings. The Town Counsel shall attend all Town Meetings I and shall, at the request of the Moderator, advise the meeting on questions of law relating to the subject matter of any article in the Warrant and as to the form of proposed votes or motions or the legality of any particular action proposed by the meeting. §5-20. Advice to Other Boards. Subject to the approval of the Board of Selectmen, all elective or appointive Town officers, special or standing committees, boards or departments may obtain, orally or in writing, the advice or opinion of the Town Counsel as to any function of their respective offices or on any specific question of law in relation thereto. §5-21. Legal Proceedings by Selectmen. The Selectmen shall be the agents of the Town to prosecute and defend suits to which the Town, in its corporate capacity, may be a party; and as agents of the Town, they shall have full authority to prosecute or defend all suits at law or in equity and all civil and criminal proceedings and litigation to which the Town, or any Town officer in his/her official capacity, is a party or in which its rights, duties and interests may be the subject of adjudication. §5-22. Compromise and Settlements. The Selectmen shall have full authority, as agents of the Town, with the advice and consent of the Town Counsel, to compromise and settle all claims or suits against the Town if, in their opinion, such claims cannot be defended advantageously or successfully. §5-23. Reports of Accidents. Whenever any accident occurs on a way, involving personal injury or property damage by reason of an alleged defect or want of repairs of such ways, the Superintendent of Streets or any police officer or other Town official or employee cognizant of the same shall forthwith make written report of such accident to the Town Counsel containing all available information useful in defending a claim or suit against the Town founded on such alleged defect or want of repair. §5-24. Assignment of Police Officer. The Chief of Police, at the request of the Town Counsel and by order of the Selectmen, shall assign a competent police officer to the Legal Department to act under the direction of the Town Counsel in the investigation of claims against the Town and to assist him/her in the trial and preparation for trial of any litigation to which the Town is a party. 26