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rt and payable to the Town, excepting interests be kept in files properly indexed in the offices on investments of sinking or trust funds, the of the Legal Department for convenient refer- collection of which is not otherwise provided ence by the Selectmen and the Town for by statute, bylaw or vote of the Town. Counsel's successor in office. §5-13. Action Upon Inability to Collect. If the §5-19. Attendance at Town Meetings. The Town Town Collector is unable to make prompt col- Counsel shall attend all Town Meetings and lection of the accounts committed to him/her shall, at the request of the Moderator, advise under this Article,he/she shall so certify to the the meeting on questions of law relating to the Selectmen, who shall enforce collection by subject matter of any article in the Warrant suit or otherwise, in accordance with the pro- and as to the form of proposed votes or visions of the statutes and the bylaws of the motions or the legality of any particular action Town. proposed by the meeting. §5-14. Payment Authorizations. Funds belonging §5-20. Advice to Other Boards. Subject to the to the Town in the hands of the Treasurer shall approval of the Board of Selectmen, all elec- only be withdrawn from the bank on orders tive or appointive Town officers, special or I countersigned by at least two (2) of the standing committees, boards or departments Selectmen. may obtain, orally or in writing, the advice or History: Amended 5-2-1983 ATM, Article opinion of the Town Counsel as to any func- 45, approved by Attorney General on 10- tion of their respective offices or on any spe- 12-1983. cific question of law in relation thereto. ARTICLE IV—Town Counsel §5-21. Legal Proceedings by Selectmen. The History: Adopted as Ch. 2, Article 2.4 and Sec. Selectmen shall be the agents of the Town to 2.13.2 of the 1980 Code. prosecute and defend suits to which the Town, in its corporate capacity, may be a party; and §5-15. Term of Office. The Selectmen, annually in as agents of the Town, they shall have full June, shall appoint a Town Counsel to hold authority to prosecute or defend all suits at office for the term of one (1) year from the law or in equity and all civil and criminal pro- first day of July following and until his/her ceedings and litigation to which the Town, or successor is appointed and qualified. any Town officer in his/her official capacity,is a party or in which its rights, duties and inter- §5-16. General Powers and Duties; Compensation. ests may be the subject of adjudication. _ He/she shall act as the legal advisor and solic- itor of the Town and as head of the Legal §5-22. Compromise and Settlements. The Department and shall receive such salary or Selectmen shall have full authority, as agents compensation as the Selectmen shall deter- of the Town, with the advice and consent of mine. the Town Counsel, to compromise and settle all claims or suits against the Town if, in their §547. Removal from Office. The Selectmen shall opinion, such claims cannot be defended remove the Town Counsel from office if, in advantageously or successfully. their opinion, the interests of the Town so f require and shall fill any vacancy in said office §5-23. Reports of Accidents. Whenever any acci- by new appointment. dent occurs on a way,involving personal injury or property damage by reason of an alleged §5-18. Accommodations. The Selectmen shall pro- defect or want of repairs of such ways, the I vide suitable space for the Town Counsel, as Superintendent of Streets or any police officer head of the Legal Department, in the Town or other Town official or employee cognizant Office Building. All books, records and doc- of the same shall forthwith make written report uments assembled by the Town Counsel in of such accident to the Town Counsel contain- connection with the Town's legal affairs shall ing all available information useful in defend- ',i 77