[HISTORY: Approved by the Board of Selectmen of the Town
of Ridgefield 8-16-1978; approved by the Town electors 11-7-1978. Amendments noted where applicable.
See notes at end of Charter.]
Article I The Charter
Section 1-1 The Charter.
Article II The Town
Section 2-1 Incorporation.
Section 2-2 Rights and obligations.
Section 2-3 General grant of powers.
Article III The Town Meeting
Section 3-1 The Town Meeting.
Section 3-2 Members of the Town Meeting.
Section 3-3 The Annual Town and Budget Meeting.
Section 3-4 Special Town Meetings.
Section 3-5 Petitioned Town Meetings.
Section 3-6 Legal notice.
Section 3-7 Organization and procedure.
Section 3-8 Ordinances; general powers and provisions.
Section 3-9 Sale, lease or purchase of real estate.
Section 3-10 Bonds and notes.
Section 3-11 Special appropriations.
Section 3-12 State or federal grants.
Section 3-13 Creation of new boards, commissions.
Section 3-14 Membership in regional organizations.
Article IV Elections and Elective Officers
Section 4-1 Elective offices, boards and commissions.
Section 4-2 General.
Section 4-3 Town elections.
Section 4-4 Board of Admission of Electors.
Section 4-5 Eligibility for election to Town offices.
Section 4-6 Minority representation.
Section 4-7 Vacancies; elective boards, offices and commissions.
Section 4-8 Election of the Board of Selectmen.
Section 4-9 Election of Tax Collector, Treasurer and Town Clerk.
Section 4-10 Board of Education.
Section 4-11 Planning and Zoning Commission; Inland Wetlands Board.
Section 4-12 Board of Appeals on Zoning.
Section 4-13 Board of Assessment Appeals.
Section 4-14 Board of Police Commissioners.
Section 4-15 Board of Finance.
Section 4-16 Additional elective boards and commissions.
Section 4-17 Terms of office and transition.
Section 4-18 Restriction on multiple elected offices.
Article V Appointive Boards, Commissions And Committees
Section 5-1 Appointive boards.
Section 5-2 Appointments to appointive boards and commissions.
Section 5-3 Commission on the Aging.
Section 5-4 Architectural Advisory Committee.
Section 5-5 Building Code Board of Appeals.
Section 5-6 Conservation Commission.
Section 5-7 Commission for the Disabled.
Section 5-8 Economic Development Commission.
Section 5-9 Board of Ethics.
Section 5-10 Historic District Commission.
Section 5-11 Housing Authority.
Section 5-12 Parks and Recreation Commission.
Section 5-13 Pension Commission.
Section 5-14 Water Pollution Control Authority.
Section 5-15 Youth Commission.
Section 5-16 Committees.
Section 5-17 Removal for cause.
Article VI Procedures for Elective and Appointive Boards
Section 6-1 Organization.
Section 6-2 Attendance.
Section 6-3 Minutes.
Section 6-4 Freedom of Information Act.
Article VII Board of Selectmen
Section 7-1 Composition.
Section 7-2 Procedure and general powers.
Section 7-3 Special powers and duties.
Section 7-4 Powers with respect to ordinances.
Article VIII The First Selectman
Section 8-1 The First Selectman.
Section 8-2 Chief executive and administrative officer.
Section 8-3 Duties of the First Selectman.
Section 8-4 Appointments.
Section 8-5 Emergencies.
Section 8-6 Delegation of duties.
Article IX Administrative Offices, Agencies and Employees
Section 9-1 Administrative offices and departments.
Section 9-2 Appointments and eligibility.
Section 9-3 Vacancies.
Section 9-4 Assessor.
Section 9-5 Building Official.
Section 9-6 Canine Control Officer.
Section 9-7 Constables.
Section 9-8 Controller.
Section 9-9 Director of Civil Preparedness.
Section 9-10 Fire Department.
Section 9-11 Fire Marshals.
Section 9-12 Health Department.
Section 9-13 Public Services Department.
Section 9-14 Social Services Department.
Section 9-15 Town Attorney.
Section 9-16 Tree warden.
Article X Finance and Taxation
Section 10-1 Budget.
Section 10-2 Additional appropriations.
Section 10-3 Expenditures and accounting.
Section 10-4 Bonds and notes.
Section 10-5 Powers and duties of the Board of Finance in connection with the development of long-range financial planning.
Article XI Standards of Conduct
Section 11-1 Declaration of purpose.
Section 11-2 Standards of service.
Section 11-3 The use of Town resources.
Section 11-4 Treatment of the public.
Section 11-5 Conflict of interest.
Section 11-6 Disclosure of confidential information.
Section 11-7 Gifts, gratuities, and favors.
Section 11-8 Employment Incompatible with Town Duties.
Section 11-9 Board of Ethics.
Section 11-10 Board of Ethics established.
Article XII Transition and Miscellaneous Provisions