§11-44B-11. City clerk, finance director, revenue director, city attorney, assistant city attorneys, and city department heads continued in office; powers and duties; claims against city; financial records; warrants; deposit of public money; payment of moneys due municipality; office space, supplies, and other support.

(a) If the city clerk of any city which adopts the mayor-council form of government as herein provided holds office subject to any civil service or merit system, such clerk shall continue to be the city clerk under the mayor-council form of government of such city and his successors shall be selected and hold office subject to the provisions of such civil service or merit system. The city clerk shall attend the meetings of the council and keep a record of its proceedings. He shall have the custody of the rules, ordinances and resolutions of the council and shall keep a record of them when adopted by the council. He shall also have the custody of the city seal. During the absence of the clerk, assistant city clerks shall perform his duties.

(b) The finance director shall submit all claims, requisitions, and demands against the city to the city clerk who shall then submit the same to the council at its next meeting for its approval, unless already provided for by ordinance or resolution, and upon their being approved by the council and the passage of ordinances or resolutions carrying them into effect when necessary, the finance director shall issue warrant or warrants on the city for the amount of such claims, requisitions or demands. Before issuing any warrant, the finance director shall audit the same, certify to its correctness and keep a record thereof which record shall also show to what department or departments it is chargeable.

The finance director shall keep a convenient set of books or records in which there shall be kept a separate accounting for each revenue item of the city. He shall keep a separate account with each department for which a separate appropriation shall have been made, crediting the amount of the appropriation and charging warrants drawn against the same. He shall keep such other accounts as may be necessary to show the financial condition of the municipality and of each department thereof at all times. He shall not allow the amount appropriated for any item of expense to be drawn on for any other purpose. He shall not allow any warrant to be drawn unless sufficient funds actually be in the treasury to the credit of the fund upon which such warrant is drawn unless specifically authorized by ordinance or resolution.

The finance director shall be the custodian of the funds of the municipality, keeping an accurate record of the funds of the several departments, and shall keep books or records showing accurately the financial condition of the city. He shall pay out money only upon warrants drawn by the officers authorized to draw warrants upon the city, and when paid shall keep safely the warrants so drawn. Such warrants, approved by the mayor or such other person as the council may designate, except as otherwise provided by law, shall be drawn by the finance director, the warrant showing to what department the same is to be charged. Such warrants shall be drawn by the finance director on the city, the warrant showing to what department the same is to be charged, but the council may authorize the finance director to draw such warrants on the city without the approval of the mayor. No warrants shall be drawn except by authority of law, ordinance, or resolution. No expenditure shall be allowed unless the same shall have been authorized by ordinance or resolution or by the mayor and is carefully itemized and shall have been examined, audited, and approved. The finance director shall keep a record of all warrants presented for payment which are unpaid for want of funds and shall pay them when funds are available in the order of their presentation. He shall make a report quarterly, or more often if required by the council, of the financial condition of the account of each department authorized to draw on the city and shall make a quarterly statement, under oath, of the financial condition of the city.

If no interest is stipulated to be paid on warrants drawn upon the finance director and not paid for want of funds, then the legal rate shall be allowed from the time of presentation, which time shall be endorsed by the finance director on the warrant with his signature.

The council may direct, by ordinance or resolution, the place where the finance director or any other department shall deposit public money and may require interest to be paid thereon and security to be given by the depository, but as to deposits made under the authority of an ordinance or resolution of the council, neither the finance director nor his bondsman, if the finance director has exercised due care, shall be further liable for any loss occasioned thereby.

The council shall provide by ordinance or resolution that all moneys due the municipality or any department thereof shall be paid to the respective departments and said department shall promptly deposit the same as prescribed by the council.

(c) The revenue director shall issue all licenses unless otherwise provided by ordinance, receiving the money therefore, and pay the same over instanter to the finance director. Any part of the duties of the finance director, revenue director or city clerk may devolve upon the auditor by ordinance.

(d) The city clerk, finance director and revenue director in addition to these numerated duties, shall perform any and all duties that may be required of them by ordinance or resolution. They shall give bond, with sureties, to be approved by the mayor, in such sum as the council may prescribe.

(e) If the finance director and/or revenue director of any city which adopts the mayor-council form of government as herein provided by this chapter, holds office subject to any civil service or merit system, such finance director and/or revenue director shall continue to be the finance director and the revenue director under the mayor-council form of government of such city, and his successors shall be selected and hold office subject to the provisions of such civil service or merit system.

(f) If the city attorney or any assistant city attorneys of any city which adopts the mayor-council form of government pursuant to this chapter holds office subject to any civil service or merit system, such city attorney and any assistant city attorneys shall continue to be the city attorney and assistant city attorneys respectively under the mayor-council form of government of such city, and the successors of the city attorney shall be selected and hold office subject to the provisions of such civil service system. Said city attorney shall be the chief legal officer of the city and be responsible for the proper administration of the legal affairs of the city. The city attorney or his designated representatives shall have the supervision and the responsibility for the prosecution of all charges of violations of municipal ordinances and regulations in the municipal court and the prosecution and defense of all actions and appeals involving the city in all courts, before all boards, commissions, and administrative agencies; and shall furnish such legal advice, counsel, and assistance to the city, heads of departments, and all other city officers in relation to their duties and the business of the city. The city attorney shall have control and direction over the legal services performed by assistant city attorneys and special counsel of the city who, at the recommendation of the city attorney, may be employed from time to time to assist the city attorney in the provision of legal services to the city. The city attorney and any assistant city attorneys shall devote their entire time to the duties of their office and shall not engage in the private practice of law. The city attorney or his designated representative shall attend all council meetings unless excused therefrom by the council or the mayor.

(g) If the head of any city department which adopts the mayor-council form of government holds office subject to any civil service or merit system, such head of any city department shall continue to be the head of that department under the mayor-council form of government pursuant to this article of such city and his successor shall be selected and hold office subject to the provisions of such civil service or merit system.

(h) The city council shall furnish all necessary office space, supplies and and other support to the administrative officers specifically enumerated in this section in connection with said officers' duties.

(Acts 1985, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 85-107, p. 141, §11.)