All the inhabitants dwelling within the territorial
limits of the Town of Mansfield shall continue to be a body politic
and corporate under the name of "The Town of Mansfield," hereinafter
called "the Town," and as such shall have perpetual succession and
may hold and exercise all powers and privileges heretofore exercised
by said Town and not inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter,
the additional powers and privileges herein conferred and all powers
and privileges conferred upon towns under the Connecticut General
Statutes, hereinafter called "C.G.S."
All rights of action and rights of every description,
including rights of ownership of all property, both real and personal,
and all securities and liens in said Town are continued. The Town
is liable for its debts and obligations. Nothing herein shall be construed
to affect the right of the Town to collect any assessment, charge,
debt or lien.
In addition to all powers granted to towns under
the constitution and general law, the Town shall have all powers specifically
granted by this Charter and all powers fairly implied in or incident
to the powers expressly granted, and all other powers incident to
the management of the property, government and affairs of the Town,
including the power to enter into contracts with any federal agency
or the State of Connecticut or any political subdivision thereof for
services and the use of facilities, the exercise of which is not expressly
forbidden by the constitution and the C.G.S. The enumeration of particular
powers in this and any other article of this Charter shall not be
construed as limiting this general grant of power but shall be considered
as an addition thereto.
All activities of elected and appointed officials
and municipal employees shall conform to the Freedom of Information
Act, as embodied in the C.G.S.