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.