What is the City Attorney’s role?
The City Attorney provides in-house legal services and representation to the Mayor, the City’s Executive Departments, Beaver Dam Common Council, the Clerk’s Office and various city boards and commissions.
What is the City Attorney responsible for?
- Written legal opinions, which are filed in the City Clerk's office
- Drafts ordinances, resolutions, bonds and other legal instruments
- Examinations of city tax documents, including tax and assessment rolls, documents from tax proceedings such as the Board of Review, and similar or related documents
- Agenda language to ensure compliance with Wisconsin's open meetings law
- Prosecutorial functions arising out of violation of city ordinances and/or state laws
The City Attorney may also:
- Appoint an Assistant City Attorney who has the power to perform the City Attorney's duties and for whose actions the City Attorney is responsible
- Employ and compensate Special Counsel to assist in or take charge of any matter in which the city has an interest
The City Attorney's office does not resolve civil matters which arise from time-to-time between neighbors, nor does it do private legal work such as real estate or family law in its role as City Attorney.
