The Town Manager shall be appointed and may be removed or suspended
by the Council by at least six affirmative votes of the membership
of the Council. The Town Manager shall be the chief executive officer
of the Town to serve at the pleasure of the Council for an indefinite
term and who shall be chosen exclusively on the basis of their executive
and administrative qualifications, character, education, professional
training and experience. At the time of their appointment, they need
not be a resident of the Town or state, but during the tenure of office,
they shall reside within the Town. The Council shall set a time limit
wherein the Town Manager will become a resident of the Town. The Town
Manager shall devote their full time to the duties of the office.
The Town Manager shall have the power and duties conferred upon
the chief executive officers of the Town by the Connecticut General
Statutes and which are not otherwise expressly provided for in this
Charter. The Town 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 or appointed by a regional,
state or federal authority. The Town Manager shall see that all laws
and ordinances governing the Town are faithfully executed, shall make
periodic reports to the Council, shall attend its meetings with full
right of participation in its discussions but without the right to
vote, and shall prepare and cause to be printed, as soon as possible
after the close of the fiscal year, an annual report; shall recommend
to the Council such measures as they may deem necessary or expedient;
shall keep the Council fully advised as to the financial condition
of the Town; shall prepare and submit to the Council an annual budget;
and shall exercise such other powers and duties of the Town Manager,
except those powers and duties imposed on them by the Council under
the provisions of this section, provided that the powers and duties
conferred upon the chief executive officers of Towns by the Connecticut
General Statutes shall not be diminished. The Town Manager shall serve
as the Director of Public Safety unless directed otherwise by the
Town Council.
The Town Manager, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Charter, shall appoint all department heads and other officers and employees of the Town and may remove all those over whom they have the power of appointment. The Town Manager shall not appoint a member of their family or any relative to a position wherein they have the power of appointment. All appointments and removals shall be in accordance with the provisions of Article IX of this Charter. In lieu of any appointment by the Town Manager to any office under their jurisdiction, the Town Manager may perform the duties of any office under their jurisdiction except those of the Town Treasurer.
In the event that the Town Manager's temporary absence
prevents or limits his or her normal business engagement, the Town
Manager shall designate an Acting Town Manager, subject to the rights
of the Town Council to override that selection by resolution appointing
an Acting Town Manager of the Council's choice, other than a
Council member. In the event the Town Manager is suspended or terminated,
the Council shall appoint an Acting Town Manager by resolution other
than a Council member, and a permanent Town Manager shall be appointed
within 180 days of said resolution. The Acting Town Manager shall
have all the powers and duties of the Town Manager.
The Council shall fix the compensation of the Town Manager and
of any Acting Town Manager. The compensation of the Town Manager shall
not be decreased except at the beginning of a fiscal year of the Town
by vote of the Council taken at least 30 days prior to that date.
