At each biennial election there shall be elected seven members
of the Town Council, hereinafter referred to as the "council", all
for terms of two years, who shall serve without compensation. Not
more than five of the members shall be of the same political party.
No member shall hold more than one elected or appointed office under
the government of the Town of East Hampton. During the term of office
for which he is elected, and for one year thereafter, they may not
be appointed to any position of remuneration within said government.
This prohibition shall not preclude any elected official from volunteering
in any capacity.
The council shall hold an organizational meeting on the first
Wednesday following the regular biennial town election in November,
1989, and biennially thereafter, for the purpose of choosing one of
its members to be chairman, but this office shall not deprive the
chairman of his vote on any question. He shall preside over all meetings
of the council and perform such other duties consistent with his office
as may be imposed by the council. He shall be recognized as the official
head of the town for all ceremonial purposes, for military purposes
and for the purpose of serving civil process. During his absence or
disability his duties shall be performed by another member chosen
by the council except as otherwise specifically provided in this charter.
At the first meeting of the council following each biennial
town election said members shall fix the time and place of their regular
meetings and provide a method for the calling of the special meetings.
They shall by resolution determine their own rules of procedure. All
meetings of the council for the transaction of business shall be open
to the public and the votes shall be recorded as prescribed by Section
1-225 of the General Statutes, as amended. Four members shall constitute
a quorum, but no ordinance, resolution, or vote, except a vote to
adjourn or to fix the time and place of the next meeting, shall be
adopted by less than four affirmative votes.
Except as otherwise provided in this charter the council shall
have the powers and duties conferred by the general and special laws
of the state upon Boards of Selectmen of towns. The legislative power
of the town shall be vested in the council except for those powers
specifically reserved for the town meeting. The council shall have
the power to enact, amend or repeal all ordinances which the legislative
body of the town is empowered to adopt, and shall have the power to
create or abolish by ordinance, boards, commissions, departments or
offices except as otherwise provided for in this charter, and to establish
by resolution such study, advisory or consulting committees as they
may determine to be necessary or appropriate for the general welfare
of the town. The council shall adopt and revise, as necessary, a uniform
personnel policy for all employees of the town except employees of
the Board of Education. The council may contract for services and
the use of facilities of the United States or any federal agency,
the State of Connecticut and any political subdivision thereof, or
may by agreement join any such political subdivision to provide services
and facilities. Each year the council shall submit to the Board of
Finance a policy statement outlining its annual budget goals and objectives
for the ensuing fiscal year. The council shall appoint for an indefinite
term and may remove a Town Manager.
At least one public hearing ten days notice of which shall be
given by publication in a newspaper having a circulation in the town
and by posting in such public place or places as the council shall
by ordinance prescribe, shall be held by the council or a committee
thereof before any ordinance shall be passed. The passage of such
ordinance shall be advertised in one or more newspapers having a circulation
in said town and shall not become effective until 20 days after such
publication provided, an ordinance stated to be a public emergency
measure and stating the facts constituting such public emergency shall
become effective immediately after such publication and no public
hearing shall be required for any public emergency measure. Every
such emergency ordinance, including any amendments thereto, shall
automatically stand repealed at the termination of the 61st day following
final passage of said ordinance. All ordinances shall be filed with
the town clerk, and recorded, complied and published by him as required
by law.