Framingham Advertises For City Solicitor at Salary of $160,000 to $188,000

[broadstreet zone=”59983″]

FRAMINGHAM – In February, long time Town Counsel and City Solicitor Chris Petrini announced he would be retiring at the end of the fiscal year, in June 2022.

Mayor Charlie Sisitsky made the decision to then go for in-house legal as opposed to hiring an outside firm.

Yesterday, May 13, the City of Framingham began advertising for a City Solicitor.

The salary range was posted as $160,920 to $188,000.

The position is appointed by the Mayor.

It shall be the City Solicitor’s duty, either personally or by such assistants as may be designated, to perform all services incident to the legal department; to give advice in writing when so requested to the Mayor, to prosecute or defend, as the case may be, all suits or cases to which the municipality may be a party, and to provide other legal support as requested by the Mayor or required by ordinance,” noted the job posting.

[broadstreet zone=”53820″]

The City Solicitor:

• Superintends the work of all Law Department staff, including Assistant City Solicitors, paralegals, and outside counsel.
• Meets with and advises the Mayor and other city departments as directed by the Mayor.
• Oversees the Law Department’s active litigation caseload from intake to conclusion before state and federal courts, independent arbitrators, and various administrative agencies, including but not limited to the Civil Service Commission, DLR, MCAD, JLMC, ABCC and DALA.
• Conducts legal research and drafts opinions on the Framingham Home Rule Charter and other legal issues for the Mayor and other city departments as directed by the Mayor.
• Appears before the City Council and its committees, as well as City boards, committees and commissions, as requested by the Mayor.
• Reviews and approves as to legal form on all City contracts.
• Provides legal risk assessment and management in all areas of City operations.
• Provides advice and opinions related to the compliance obligations of the City, its employees and elected officials as required by the Mayor.
• Participates in the negotiation of all labor contracts, as well as grievances and arbitrations, for the City with all city labor unions, as conducted by labor counsel, assistant city solicitors and/or outside counsel.

[broadstreet zone=”53130″]

• Manages claims against the City and seeks collection on claims on behalf of the City, in conjunction with City divisions, departments, boards and commissions.
• Drafts or updates as necessary, ordinances, Home Rule Petitions, resolutions, rules and regulations and policies and procedures.
• Advocates for passage of the City’s state legislative initiatives.
• Interacts and works closely with City division and department heads to advise on legal aspects of City work as directed by the Mayor.
• Prepares and oversees the administration of the legal department’s annual operating budget
• Serves as the Legal Department’s Records Access Officer in responding to public records requests. Upon Request of the Mayor, assists Departments and Boards and Commission in responding to public records appeals to the Supervisor of Public Records and Open Meeting Law Complaints to the Division of Open Government of the Office of Attorney General.
• Serves as the City’s Conflict of Interest Liaison to the State Ethics Commission pursuant to G.L. c. 268A.
• Serves as the City’s official Keeper of Record for all documents in the Law Department.
• Must be reasonably available to respond to the Mayor and other appropriate city staff during non-working days and hours.

[broadstreet zone=”59946″]

The City Solicitor shall have strong legal qualifications and shall be especially fitted by education, training and experience to perform the duties of the office.

Applicants must have a Juris Doctor degree with more than 10 years prior work experience preferably in a municipal law department or municipal law practice; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.  Must have experience in a fast-paced, high-volume environment, a demonstrated ability to multitask and appropriately prioritize work amongst many high priority items and experience advising executive leadership in complicated situations.  

A member in good standing of the Massachusetts Bar and to the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.  Admission the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals is desirable but not required. ]

The posting will be up a minimum of 30 days.

[broadstreet zone=”54526″]