Posted: 10-Jul-23
Location: Galesburg, Illinois
Type: Full Time
Salary: $100,000 - $115,000 DOQ/E
Categories:
POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
CITY ATTORNEY
CITY OF GALESBURG, ILLINOIS
Galesburg, IL (30,405) – The City of Galesburg is seeking applicants for its City Attorney position. The City Attorney serves as the chief legal officer for the municipality and is appointed and supervised by the City Manager.
Galesburg is an independent city located in western Illinois known for its rich heritage, outstanding educational institutions, and strategic transportation resources. It is the county seat of Knox County and serves as a regional center for commerce, culture, education, transportation, and healthcare. Its many beautiful tree-lined neighborhoods, its vibrant historic downtown, and its wonderful public parks and open spaces contribute to the wonderful quality of life that the residents of Galesburg enjoy.
Galesburg is home to Knox College, an outstanding four-year liberal arts school, which proudly hosted the fifth Lincoln-Douglas debate in 1858. In fact, Knox awarded its first honorary doctorate degree to then presidential-candidate Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg is a two-year community college and is named after one of the community’s favorite sons and beloved Pulitzer Prize winning America poets.
Aside from outstanding highway transportation access provided by Interstate 74 and U.S. Highway 34, Galesburg is extremely well served by both freight and passenger rail services. BNSF is the freight carrier that operates the Cokeville Depot and the Galesburg Rail Yard. Galesburg is also blessed with outstanding passenger rail service via Amtrak. The Amtrak Zephyr provides westward service from Galesburg to the west coast. There is also daily passenger service eastward to Chicago.
The municipality in Galesburg operates under the Council-Manager form of government. Galesburg is governed by an eight (8) member City Council consisting of the Mayor, elected at-large to a four-year term, and seven (7) Council members, each of which are elected by wards to four-year overlapping terms. The Mayor only votes in the event of a tie.
The City provides a full-complement of traditional municipal services and which are provided by its 240 full-time employees distributed among eight (8) operating departments. The City Manager serves as the City’s chief administrator officer and oversees all daily operations of the municipality. All department heads, including the City Attorney, are appointed by and report to the City Manager. The City Attorney, however, will have regular and considerable interaction with the Mayor and City Council Members.
The City Attorney is responsible for performing a variety of legal services for the City. The major duties and responsibilities of the position include:
•Ensure that the City complies with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations and laws.
•Provide advice to the City Manager and City Council on a variety of policy matters and potentialor pending litigation.
•Reviews and prepares ordinances, resolutions, contracts, and other legal documents as directedby the City Manager.
• Advises and represents the City, in coordination with Human Resources, on various labor
relations and personnel activities including such things as union negotiations, grievance and
interest arbitration, and employee discipline & discharge matters.
• Represents the City as a plaintiff in collections, small claims, judgements, and tax foreclosures.
• Defends the City in litigation involving general liability, public official’s liability, policy liability,
and from equal employment opportunity claims.
• Attends all regular and special meetings of the City Council and serves as the parliamentarian.
• Prosecutes ordinance violations and represents the City in administrative hearings.
• Coordinates and oversees the work of external legal service providers.
Qualified applicants for the position must possess a law degree and be licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois or be able to obtain such a license in a short period of time. Some governmental legal experience, particular at the municipal level, is highly desirable. Qualified applicants must be able to communicate effectively, both in writing and verbally, and should possess good interpersonal skills.
The starting salary range for this position is $100,000 to $115,000 DOQ/E. The City also provides an excellent package of fringe benefits. The City requires residency within the corporate limits of Galesburg within twelve (12) months of appointment.
Interested candidates should apply online by 5:00 pm on August 4, 2023, with resume, cover letter, and contact information for five (5) work related references to www.GovHRjobs.com to the attention of Mark R. Peterson, Vice President, GovHR USA. On-line application submittals are required. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Please direct all questions about the position, the organization, and/or the selection process to Mr. Peterson at (309) 825-5091.
The City of Galesburg is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
