HOUSE BILL NO. 2195 Offered January 10, 2007 Prefiled January 9, 2007 A BILL to amend and reenact § 5.01 of Chapter 167 of the Acts of Assembly of 1979, which provided a charter for the City of Hampton, relating to appointment of city attorney. ---------- Patron-- Ward ---------- Committee Referral Pending ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 5.01 of Chapter 167 of the Acts of Assembly of 1979 is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 5.01.  Establishment of legal department; qualifications; composition; terms; powers and duties, etc.

There shall be a legal department which shall be headed by the city attorney, who shall be an attorney at law licensed to practice under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. He shall be appointed or removed by the city manager with the advice and approval of the council and shall serve at its pleasure. The legal department shall consist of the city attorney and such other employees as may be provided by ordinance.

The city attorney shall be the chief legal advisor of the council, the city manager and of all departments, boards, commissions and agencies of the city, including the school board, in all matters affecting the interests of the city.  He shall represent the city in all legal proceedings including the prosecution of violations of city ordinances.  He shall make such investigation into any affairs of the city as the city manager or council shall direct.  It shall be his duty to perform all services incident to his position as may be required by the laws of the Commonwealth, this charter, or by ordinance.  He shall have general management and control of the department.