Council Administrator/Attorney
Job Description
The incumbent serves as the principal legal advisor to the Common Council while directing the operations of the Common Council Office. This position provides strategic leadership and administrative oversight to ensure effective governance, continuity, and the efficient functioning of Council activities. The role operates in both legal counsel and executive leadership capacities in support of the Council.This job description is illustrative only and is not a comprehensive listing of all job functions performed. The following are essential duties for this position, performed with or without reasonable accommodation:
Advises Common Council regarding federal, state and local laws, anticipated or threatened litigation, potential liability and risks, and various legal circumstances and situations.
Reviews all legislation before the Common Council to ensure that the Council remains within its legal authority and that the legislation complies with applicable law; advises council members on whether legislation appropriately reflects policy intent.
Assists the Council in reviewing the proposed city budget for legal, procedural, and institutional implications. Keeps Council members informed of significant changes in local, state, and federal law and legislative developments affecting the City and the Council’s work.
Oversees and, as necessary, contributes to the drafting of ordinances, resolutions, contracts, and other legal documents for action by the Common Council, including conducting or directing legal research as requested by the Council.
Oversees the preparation and distribution of legal documents, legislation, agendas, and related legislative materials for Common Council meetings, and ensures that Council meetings are conducted in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local law, including public notice and accessibility requirements. Attends Council meetings, advises on legal and procedural matters as required. Communicates and meets with City departments and other stakeholders as needed to resolve issues, facilitate legislative work, and support Council operations.
Supervises, and when necessary, conducts legal research, prepares court cases, and represents the Council in litigation and in various legal proceedings.
Ensures adequate staffing at Council committee meetings and ensures posting of agendas and information packets for such meetings. Serves on the City’s collective bargaining team when directed by the Council.
Ensures appropriate response to resident and media inquiries concerning Council business.
Oversees processes for receiving, referring, tracking, and following up on constituent concerns to help ensure that matters raised with the Council are directed appropriately and addressed in a timely manner.
Oversees the development, submission, administration, and monitoring of the Council department budget in coordination with appropriate staff and consistent with Council priorities.
Directs the annual review of department activities, services, and operational effectiveness, and oversees the preparation and submission of related reports.
Serves as the Council Administrator/Attorney for the Common Council, providing strategic leadership, vision, and continuity of operations across Council terms, and supervises and directs the Deputy Administrator/Attorney, Assistant Administrator/Legal Research Assistant, interns, and other Council staff as assigned, including setting priorities, reviewing work, and supporting professional development.
Answers telephone, greets office visitors, determines nature of call, responds to inquiries and/or routes caller to appropriate person or department.
Performs related duties as assigned.
Takes all reasonable steps to maintain a safe work environment.
J.D. degree, licensed attorney in the State of Indiana with a minimum of 5 years of prior experience.
Knowledge of local, state and federal laws, regulations, and codes and ability to apply that knowledge to various circumstances that pertain to the City.
Ability to direct and supervise others and provide guidance for Council members.
Knowledge of public budget development, administration, and oversight sufficient to supervise the Council department budget and advise on related institutional issues
The work is highly complex and requires the application of advanced legal knowledge, policy judgment, and administrative leadership to address novel, sensitive, and high-impact issues facing the Common Council and the City of Bloomington and its residents. The incumbent must interpret and apply a broad range of laws, regulations, and procedures while simultaneously managing competing priorities, and operational constraints; upholding the Council's role as legislative body and final fiscal authority. The role regularly involves time-sensitive decision-making with significant legal, institutional, and public consequences, often in situations where guidance may be limited or precedents are unclear.
Provides balanced, well-reasoned, and objective legal and strategic advice to Council members, particularly where legal risk, policy disagreement, or competing institutional interests are present. Often provides legal opinions during public Council meetings.
Incumbent should expect irregular hours given the Council’s schedule. This will include evenings and on occasion weekends as necessary for time sensitive completion of tasks and to address unforeseen complications. The Common Council generally holds regular session meetings on Wednesday evenings.
Work environment is a modern office with no unusual physical demands.
Maintains frequent contact with officials, petitioners, local, state and federal agencies, and the general public in often unpredictable circumstances, making significant policy and legal recommendations. Must maintain professional working relationships with all department heads.
Contacts often require incumbent to utilize tact and the use of persuasion to gain cooperation in the face of differences of opinion.