Section 65 ILCS 5/4-5-4 - Establishment of certain offices; police and legal departments in cities over 50,000(a) At the first regular meeting after the general election of its members or as soon as practicable after the election, the council in its discretion, as determined by a majority vote, may appoint, by a majority vote, the following officers: city clerk, corporation counsel, city attorney, assistant city attorney, city treasurer, library trustees, commissioner of streets and public improvements, superintendent of streets, superintendent of special assessments, superintendent of sewers, city engineer, and any additional officers that the council considers necessary or expedient. The commissioner of streets and public improvements under this Article shall be ex-officio the commissioner of public works and a member of the board of local improvements as and when provided for by Article 9. If, however, it is provided by ordinance that a superintendent of streets shall be appointed by the commissioner of streets and public improvements, the council shall have no power to appoint the superintendent of streets. If it is provided by law that the superintendent of streets shall be a member of the board of local improvements, the fact that the superintendent of streets is appointed by the commissioner of streets and public improvements shall not bar the superintendent of streets from membership on the board of local improvements.(b) In all cities of over 50,000 population that have adopted or that may hereafter adopt this Article and Sections 10-1-1 through 10-1-45, the police departments shall be assigned to and shall be a part of the department of public affairs, and the corporation counsel, city attorney, assistant city attorney, and all other members of the legal department shall be assigned to the department of public affairs and shall be appointed by the mayor as the commissioner of that department.