what does a borough attorney do

by Brice Hodkiewicz Sr. 4 min read

A borough solicitor, especially one who specializes in labor relations and employment, can save the day when it comes to drafting or negotiating a collective bargaining agreement, disciplining or discharging an employee, or developing an employee manual for the borough.

The Borough Attorney's Office prepares and reviews legal documents, governmental legislation, ordinances, contracts, licenses, and deeds, and legal opinions. The Borough Attorney's Office attends various Borough meetings in an advisory capacity.

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What does borough mean in government?

Department Head / Staff Information Robert J. Bergen, Esq. - Law Director Margaret Russo - Secretary Mailing Address Robert J. Bergen, Esq., Law Director Borough of Carteret Memorial Municipal Buidling 61 Cooke Avenue Carteret, NJ 07008 Contact Information Memorial …

What does a city attorney do?

The Borough Attorney is the legal advisor for the Fairbanks North Star Borough. The Borough Attorney’s services are provided to the Borough as an entity and to its officials and employees in the course and scope of their employment or official duties. The legal department cannot and …

What does a NYC borough president do?

Dec 11, 2017 · A borough solicitor may be a solo practitioner or an attorney at a law firm. According to Pennsylvania’s Borough Code, a borough solicitor must control all “ [t]he legal matters of the borough.”. [1] Specifically, it requires a duly appointed solicitor to provide the …

What does a district attorney do?

Oct 07, 2019 · City Attorney Duties & Responsibilities The job generally requires the ability to perform the following duties: Advise city leaders on matters related to ethics, personnel, …

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What is a borough solicitor?

A borough solicitor, especially one who specializes in labor relations and employment, can save the day when it comes to drafting or negotiating a collective bargaining agreement, disciplining or discharging an employee, or developing an employee manual for the borough.

What can a borough hold?

Just like a person, a borough can hold estates, rights, trusts, privilege, claims and demands. Sometimes, lawsuits are necessary to protect or enforce those interests, and that’s where your borough solicitor can step in.

What is municipal bond?

Municipal bonds are debt obligations issued by a government entity to raise money to finance public projects such as streets, sewer systems, municipal buildings, and others. Your borough solicitor must handle bonds, obligations, and assurances that pertain to the borough.

Can a borough cancel a solicitor's appointment?

This referral is permitted by the Borough Code and does not cancel your solicitor’s appointment. File Lawsuits on Behalf of the Borough. Just like a person, a borough can hold estates, rights, trusts, privilege, claims and demands.

Can a borough file a lawsuit?

Just like a person, a borough can hold estates, rights, trusts, privilege, claims and demands. Sometimes, lawsuits are necessary to protect or enforce those interests, and that’s where your borough solicitor can step in. For example, the Municipal Claims and Tax Lien Act authorizes a borough to file a claim ...

Can a borough solicitor defend an elected official?

A borough solicitor cannot defend an elected official or employee in personal matters. Legal Opinions. Upon request, a borough solicitor must give the council, the mayor or the head of a department an opinion in writing upon any number of questions of law.

What is the right to know law in Pennsylvania?

Right to Know Law. The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law [4] requires a borough to disclose a “public record” to any person who is a legal resident of the United States. What this means is that all public records by the borough can be accessed and reviewed by almost anybody in the country.

What do city attorneys do?

City attorneys advise a municipal government’s leadership on legal matters that may impact the city. They must be well-versed in state law governing the creation and operation of municipal governments. Additionally, city attorneys must know the law related to human resources, open meetings, open records, contracts, taxes, and criminal records. ...

What do city attorneys need to know?

Additionally, city attorneys must know the law related to human resources, open meetings, open records, contracts, taxes, and criminal records. Depending on the city’s form of government, the city attorney may report to the mayor, city council, ...

Who do city attorneys report to?

Depending on the city’s form of government, the city attorney may report to the mayor, city council, or the city manager .

What is the job of a city councilor?

The job generally requires the ability to perform the following duties: Advise city leaders on matters related to ethics, personnel, ordinances, contracts, land use, taxes, and finance. Stay informed on changes to state and federal laws that impact the city. Inform the appropriate elected officials and city staff as laws are being debated in ...

What is the advice of a city attorney?

The city attorney’s advice may include opinions about whether the changes are good policy, but the most important pieces are whether the changes are permissible under state and federal law and whether the city is exposing itself to legal risk by making the changes.

Do city attorneys make less money?

Government attorneys typically make less money than private sector attorneys. A city attorney’s salary is highly correlated to the size of the city. When interviewing for a city attorney position, look at the salaries of the current city manager, former city attorney, and city department heads to prepare yourself for salary negotiations.

What skills do city attorneys need?

Communication skills: City attorneys must be able to clearly present and explain complex information verbally and in writing. Problem-solving skills: The city attorney will need to help resolve a number of issues that will impact the city.

What is the job of a prosecutor?

It is the prosecutor's job to make certain the evidence available and admissible in the case is sufficient to meet this burden. The prosecutor generally relies on the police to produce sufficient evidence of the crime, but it is the prosecutor's ultimate responsibility to investigate illegal activity.

What is the role of the prosecutor in a grand jury?

The prosecutor presents evidence in the form of witness testimony before the grand jury, whose members then decide whether there is probable cause for a criminal charge. Grand jury proceedings are closed to the public and are not subject to the rules of evidence.

What is the role of the Department of Justice?

Each state government maintains a department of justice responsible for the prosecution of crimes. Counties, cities and towns also employ attorneys to prosecute crimes against state or local ordinances. These departments are staffed by attorneys who present the government's evidence to a judge or jury for a final determination of guilt.

What do counties and cities do?

Counties, cities and towns also employ attorneys to prosecute crimes against state or local ordinances. These departments are staffed by attorneys who present the government's evidence to a judge or jury for a final determination of guilt. Known as a county or city attorney, district attorney, commonwealth attorney, prosecutor, ...

What is the purpose of a grand jury?

The prosecutor presents evidence in the form of witness testimony before the grand jury, whose members then decide whether there is probable cause for a criminal charge. Grand jury proceedings are closed to the public and are not subject to the rules of evidence. As such, hearsay evidence and testimony otherwise inadmissible in a trial may be introduced to the grand jury. In most jurisdictions, grand juries are reserved for the indictment of felony crimes only .

Is a grand jury open to the public?

Grand jury proceedings are closed to the public and are not subject to the rules of evidence. As such, hearsay evidence and testimony otherwise inadmissible in a trial may be introduced to the grand jury. In most jurisdictions, grand juries are reserved for the indictment of felony crimes only.

What is the discretion of a prosecutor?

Prosecutors are given wide discretion over whether to prosecute an offender. Even if the evidence seems solid in the grand jury proceedings, there is always the possibility that the evidence will not be enough to move forward; witnesses disappear; or evidence reveals that another perpetrator was actually responsible. Criminal charges stemming from a police investigation, as opposed to a grand jury, often present a prosecutor with the difficult choice of accepting the charges or declining to prosecute. Citizen complaints alleging criminal activity are often declined due to a lack of evidence.

What is a district attorney?

A district attorney is an elected or appointed public official of a county or designated district whose duties are governed by state law.

What is the role of the Attorney General in impeachment proceedings?

To, when requested to do so by the Attorney General, assist the Attorney General in the prosecution of all impeachment proceedings which it is his or her duty to institute before a court involving any official or officials in their respective judicial circuits.

What are the duties of a grand jury?

Specific duties may include the following: To attend on the grand juries, advise them in relation to matters of law, and examine and swear witnesses before them. To draw up all indictments and to prosecute all indictable offenses.

What is a district attorney?

District attorneys, sometimes called county attorneys, state attorneys, or prosecutors, are responsible for representing the government against criminal offenders in court. In many places, a district attorney must be elected into the position. At the federal level, a district attorney is called a U.S. Attorney.

How many years does it take to become a lawyer?

It takes approximately seven years to become a lawyer. Four years consist of undergraduate studies and the remaining three years are spent in law school. Most states require potential lawyers to be graduates of an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited school to qualify for admission to the bar.

What is the job of a criminal prosecutor?

Criminal prosecutions are the chief duty of most State's Attorney offices. In many states, such as Michigan, criminal prosecutions follow a predetermined series of steps [source: Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan ]. First, police file a warrant or charging request with the State's Attorney following an investigation.

What is a prosecutor?

A State's Attorney is the most common term for a prosecutor, someone who represents the people in criminal and civil legal matters. But while the most iconic image of a State's Attorney is ...

What is a state attorney?

A State's Attorney is the most common term for a prosecutor, someone who represents the people in criminal and civil legal matters. But while the most iconic image of a State's Attorney is the trial prosecutor depicted in countless television shows, books and films, State's Attorneys don't just prosecute accused criminals. ...

Do state attorneys prosecute criminals?

But while the most iconic image of a State's Attorney is the trial prosecutor depicted in countless television shows, books and films, State's Attorneys don't just prosecute accused criminals.

What does the head of law enforcement do?

As the head law enforcement official for their jurisdiction, they're also charged with looking out for the public's interest in all legal matters. Sometimes, that means filing a lawsuit against a company taking part in illegal business practices, in order to punish it and force it to stop.

How are state attorneys elected?

In general, State's Attorneys are elected by the people they represent. Their duties are spelled out in the laws of the local governments they represent, and they're held accountable by the voters for how well they do their jobs and how well their performance matches up with the local politics of the area. But a State's Attorney hardly ever does ...

Does a state attorney do the job alone?

But a State's Attorney hardly ever does the job alone . Many have offices that contain dozens or even hundreds of appointed assistant or deputy State's Attorneys, as well as support staff. These assistants or deputies are the ones who routinely appear in court, representing the State's Attorney's office.

What does a borough president do?

The borough president largely serves as an ambassador for their borough with a direct line to the mayor or even governor to discuss prevailing issues impacting their corner of New York City. Sometimes the relationship can be frosty, as in the case of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and Mayor Bill de Blasio, or incredibly beneficial as is the case with Diaz and Governor Andrew Cuomo. Borough presidents can gain the upper hand on an issue by weaponizing what got them into office to begin with: charm and people skills. It's perhaps the greatest tool in their limited bucket.

What is the borough president's role in New York City?

As the top executive and intermediary between local and more centralized New York City government, the borough president is allocated 5% of the city's annual discretionary capital budget each year, which is then earmarked for schools, community-based organizations, hospitals, transportation projects, and historic landmarks. Applications are sent to the borough president's office for review during budget season.

Does the borough president make the final call on land use?

The borough president does not make the final call on land use matters, specifically the rezoning of a given neighborhood (that is left up to the Council member where said rezoning would happen, with members honoring their vote), but they are empowered to offer an advisory vote during what is often a lengthy public review process.

Who established the borough government?

The Borough government was established by William Henry Puthuff after the island was proclaimed to be a U.S. territory in the War of 1812. The borough government was replaced by a village government in 1847.

What is a borough in Pennsylvania?

A borough is a self-governing entity that is generally smaller than a city. If an area is not governed by either a borough or city, then the area is governed as a township.

What is a borough in Alaska?

In Alaska only, a borough is a county-equivalent. Municipal offices sign for Littlestown, a borough of Pennsylvania.

Is Anchorage a city or borough?

The Municipality of Anchorage is a consolidated city-borough, as are Sitka, Juneau, Haines and Yakutat . Nearly half of the state's area is part of the vast Unorganized Borough, which has no borough-level government at all. The United States Census Bureau has divided the Unorganized Borough into ten census areas for statistical purposes.

How many census areas are there in the Unorganized Borough?

The United States Census Bureau has divided the Unorganized Borough into ten census areas for statistical purposes.

Is Connecticut a borough?

Connecticut. In addition to cities, Connecticut also has another type of dependent municipality known as a borough. Boroughs are usually the populated center of a town that decided to incorporate in order to have more responsive local government. When a borough is formed, it is still part of and dependent on its town.

Is Connecticut a municipal or borough?

Boroughs in Connecticut are counted as separate municipal governments, but governmental functions performed in other parts of the state by town governments are performed by the parent town of the borough.

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