The council shall appoint a town attorney to serve at the pleasure of the council. He shall be an attorney-at-law admitted to practice in Colorado. The town attorney shall be the legal representative of the town and he shall advise the council and town officials in matters relating to their official powers and duties and perform such other duties as council may prescribe by ordinance or resolution. The council may provide the town attorney such assistants as council may deem necessary, and may upon his own motion or upon request of the town attorney in special cases employ special counsel to serve under the direction of the town council. Council shall establish compensation for the town attorney, his assistants and special counsel.