§ 204. Certification and approval of contracts and conveyances. No
written contract providing for the payment of two hundred dollars or
more, entered into by the city or any of its officers, boards or
departments, shall become effective or be acted under until there shall
be indorsed thereon by the corporation counsel or an assistant, a
certificate to the effect that the city officer, board or department
which has executed the same on behalf of the city, had authority and
power to make such contract, and that such contract is in proper form
and properly executed; he shall approve all deeds, conveyances, leases
and abstracts of title affecting property acquired, conveyed to or
leased by the city; and he shall attend to all the law business of the
city and discharge such other duties as may be prescribed by law or
ordinance of the common council.