The Town Manager, hereinafter referred to as the Manager, shall
be appointed and may be removed or suspended by the Council. Said
appointment, removal or suspension shall be with no less than six
affirmative votes by resolution. The Manager shall be chosen on the
basis of professional experience, training, and executive and administrative
qualifications. The Manager shall serve for an indefinite term at
the pleasure of the Council. At the time of appointment the Manager
need not be a resident of the Town or State, but while in office shall
reside within the Town within a period of no more than six months
from the first date of work as Manager with the possibility of an
extension of up to six months at the discretion of the Council. The
Manager shall devote full time to the duties of the office.
A.Â
The Manager shall be the chief executive of the Town and shall have
the powers and duties conferred upon chief executive officers of towns
by the Connecticut General Statutes, except such powers as may be
delegated to others by this Charter. The Manager shall be directly
responsible to the Council for the supervision and administration
of all commissions, boards, departments, offices and agencies of the
Town except those elected by the people, appointed by the Council,
appointed by the Mayor, or appointed by regional, state or federal
authority, unless such responsibility is expressly delegated by the
appointing authority. The Manager shall perform the duties of any
office over which he/she has a power of appointment until he/she has
made such appointment. The Manager shall see that all laws and ordinances
governing the Town are executed faithfully; shall make periodic reports
to the Council and shall attend its meetings with full right of participation
in its discussions but without the right to vote; shall prepare and
cause to be printed an annual report at the close of the fiscal year;
shall recommend to the Council such measures as may be deemed necessary
or expedient and shall keep the Council fully advised as to the financial
condition of the Town.
B.Â
The Manager shall prepare and submit to the Council an annual budget
and shall exercise such other powers and perform such other duties
as may be required by ordinance, resolution or vote of the Council,
unless inconsistent with this Charter. The Council shall not diminish
by ordinance, vote or otherwise the powers and duties of the Manager
granted by this Charter.
The Manager, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Charter, shall appoint all department heads and all employees of the Town and may remove all those over whom the Manager has the power of appointment. The Manager shall not appoint an immediate relative to any position. All appointments and removals of classified service employees shall be in accordance with the provisions of Article IX of this Charter.
A.Â
During the period of a vacancy or a suspension in the office of Manager,
the Council shall appoint by resolution a person, other than a Council
member, as Acting Manager, for a period not to exceed 90 days. He/She
shall have all powers and duties of the Manager provided for herein.
B.Â
The Manager may designate a Town employee to serve as temporary Acting
Manager during the period of the Manager's temporary absence
or disability. In the event that the Council shall determine that
it is reasonably probable that the absence or disability shall be
longer than one month, the Council shall by resolution appoint a Town
employee to perform the duties of the temporary Acting Manager, for
a period not to exceed 90 days. Said temporary Acting Manager shall
have all the powers and duties of the Manager.
The Council shall fix the compensation of the Manager and of
any acting or temporary Acting Manager. The compensation of the Manager
may be decreased with not less than six affirmative votes by resolution,
such vote being taken at least 30 days prior to the beginning of the
fiscal year.