§ 12-7-2. Powers and duties.

The office of consumer affairs shall have the power to perform the following duties:

(1)

to serve as a central coordinating agency and clearing house for receiving and investigating complaints from consumers concerning illegal, fraudulent, deceptive or dangerous practices relating to consumer products, goods or services, and referring these complaints to the departments, agencies or appropriate law enforcement officers charged with enforcement of consumer laws, subject to the procedure set forth in section 12-7-15 of this chapter. The processing of complaints involving statutes or regulations administered by state agencies shall be coordinated, where applicable, with the state office of consumer affairs.

(2)

to attempt to resolve complaints received pursuant to subsection (1) hereof by means of voluntary mediation or arbitration, or by proceedings before the city's consumer affairs commission hereinafter established, subject to the procedure set forth in section 12-7-15 of this chapter.

(3)

to develop programs of community consumer education and information in consultation with the city's consumer affairs commission.

(4)

to maintain records of consumer complaints and their eventual disposition, provided that records disclosing business interests of any person, trade secrets or the names of customers shall be held confidential except to the extent that disclosures of such matters may be necessary for the enforcement of laws. A copy of all periodic reports shall be filed with the state office of consumer affairs.

(5)

to provide staff assistance and information to the city's consumer affairs commission. (Code 1963, Sec. 2-158)