Prince Edward County council has passed a new by-law to officially set the responsibilities for the in-house municipal lawyer.
Prince Edward County has already hired a lawyer to be on staff for the council, Sarah Viau, who started in the role on July 31.
A report presented to council highlighted that having a municipal lawyer in house is considered best practice for a municipality.
The new by-law clarifies the role, and that the municipal lawyer is responsible for providing legal advice to the municipality in regards to:
- Litigation
- Planning
- Procurement
- By-law drafting and enforcement
- Prosecution
- Corporate risk management
- Administrative monetary penalties
- General municipal law
The county will continue to use external legal counsel in the areas of labour and employment, real estate and development, and for representation before the Ontario Land Tribunal.
The motion was passed without any debate by councillors.
