All the inhabitants dwelling within the territorial limits of
the Town of Bethel, as heretofore constituted, shall continue to be
a body politic and corporate under the name of the "Town of Bethel"
(hereinafter in this Charter called the "town") and 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 general law of the State of Connecticut.
All property, both real and personal, all rights of action and
rights of every description and all securities and liens in said town
as of the date when this Charter shall take effect are continued,
and the town shall continue to be liable for all debts and obligations
of every kind for which the town shall be liable on said date, whether
accrued or not. Nothing herein shall be construed to affect the right
of the town to collect any assessment, charge, debt or lien. If any
contract has been entered into by said town prior to the effective
date of this Charter or any bond or undertaking has been given by
or in favor of said town which contains provisions that the same may
be enforced by any office or agency therein named, which is abolished,
such contracts, bonds or undertakings shall be in no manner impaired
but shall continue in full force and effect. The powers conferred
and the duties imposed with reference to the same upon any such office
or agency shall, except as otherwise provided in this Charter, thereafter
be exercised and discharged by the Board of Selectmen of said town.
[Amended 11-6-1984]
In addition to all powers which are or may be possessed by the
town or granted to it under the State Constitution and under the Connecticut
General Statutes, 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 the United States or any federal
agency, the State of Connecticut or any political subdivision thereof
or other states or political subdivisions, for services and the use
of facilities, the exercise of which is not expressly forbidden by
the Constitution and the general law of the State of Connecticut.
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.