DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Sec. 25: (Repealed. Repeal ratified November 4, 1986, effective January 13, 1987.)

Sec. 26: (Repealed. Repeal ratified November 4, 1986, effective January 13, 1987.)

Sec. 27: The Public Defender, upon request of the defendant, or upon order of the Court, shall defend without expense to him, all persons who are not financially able to employ counsel, and who are charged with the commission of any contempt, misdemeanor, felony, or other offense. He shall also, upon request, give counsel and advice to such persons, in and about any charge against them upon which he is conducting the defense, and he shall prosecute all appeals to a higher court or courts, of any person who has been convicted upon any such charge, where, in his opinion, such appeal will, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the reversal or modification of the judgment of conviction.

He shall also, upon request, prosecute actions for the collection of wages and of other demands of persons who are not financially able to employ counsel, in cases in which the sum involved does not exceed one hundred dollars, and in which, in the judgment of the Public Defender, the claims urged are valid and enforceable in the courts.

He shall also, upon request, defend such persons in all civil litigation in which, in his judgment, they are being persecuted or unjustly harassed.

He shall also have the powers and perform the duties now or hereafter prescribed by general law.

Sec. 28: The Purchasing Agent shall be in charge of the County store, and shall purchase, except as otherwise provided in this Charter, all materials, supplies, equipment, and all other personal property for all departments, offices, boards, courts, commissions and institutions of the County. All departments, offices, boards, courts, commissions and institutions shall, when requested, furnish, the Purchasing Agent a detailed statement of the materials, supplies, equipment, and other personal property required by each of them during the fiscal year.

The Purchasing Agent shall purchase and keep in the County store, all materials, supplies, equipment and other personal property which reasonably and advantageously may be kept in such store, and shall issue such materials, supplies, equipment and other personal property on requisition of the department, office, board, court, commission or institution requiring them. Other materials, supplies, equipment and personal property shall be purchased by the Purchasing Agent upon the requisition of the department, office, board, court, commission and institution requiring the same.

The Purchasing Agent shall standardize as far as possible, all materials, supplies, equipment and other personal property required for the conduct and operation of all departments, offices, boards, courts, commissions and institutions of the County and maintain a continuous inventory.

The Purchasing Agent shall not furnish any materials, supplies, equipment or other personal property for any department, office, board, court, commission or institution unless there is an unencumbered balance to the credit of such department, office, board, court, commission or institution sufficient to pay therefor.

The Purchasing Agent shall sell all personal property determined by the Board of Supervisors to be no longer required or suitable for County use, in such manner as said Board shall direct. All such sales shall be reported to and ratified by the Board of Supervisors before becoming effective.

Sec. 28.1: Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 28 and Section 29 of this Charter, the Board of Supervisors may provide by contract with any city, town, district, or public agency of the county for the joint purchase of any or all materials, supplies, equipment and other personal property required for the conduct and operation of county departments, offices, boards, commissions and institutions which may be standardized for the mutual benefit of the county and such city, town, district or public agency. Such agreement shall specify the property to be standardized and the agency and method by which such property is to be purchased.

(Amendment ratified June 5, 1956. Effective January 4, 1957.)

Sec. 29: Each county and township officer, board and commission shall have the powers and perform the duties now or hereafter prescribed by general law and by this Charter, as to such officer, Board or Commission.

Sec. 30: The Auditor shall install and maintain a modern accounting system which shall include a standard classification of income and expenditures as will permit of the preparation at any time of a general balance sheet disclosing the exact financial condition of the County as to assets and liabilities. He shall prescribe uniform forms of account blanks, books of record, and other financial stationery used in connection with the accounting system, for all offices and departments of the County.

The Auditor may, with the approval of the Board of Supervisors, contract with a duly certified public accountant, or accountants, to design and install the accounting system herein referred to, or any portion thereof, or extension thereto.