There shall be the following administrative officers and departments
for the town: Town Clerk; Finance Officer; Tax Collector; Assessor;
Director of Emergency Management; Director of Public Works; Building
Official; Town Engineer; Town Attorney; Constables; Director of Health;
Director of Recreation; Fire Marshal; Animal Control Officer; Director
of Human Services; and Town Planner. The Board of Selectmen may recommend
to the town meeting pursuant to the provisions of Section 703 of this
Charter the creation of such additional or the elimination of such
existing administrative offices and departments as it from time to
time may deem appropriate and necessary to the best interest of the
town. All administrative officers and department heads and their deputies
and assistants shall receive compensation fixed by the Board of Selectmen;
provided, however, no compensation shall be based upon any fees collected
by them and all such fees collected by them shall be paid to the town
treasury. [Amended 11-5-2002]
Administrative officers and department heads shall be appointed
in the manner hereinafter provided. Appointees of the Board of Selectmen
shall be appointed and may be removed in accordance with the provisions
of Section 803 of this Charter. No officer or employee of the town
shall serve on any board or commission if his or her duties on the
board or commission conflict with the duties of his or her town position.
Any such officer or employee elected to public office in the town
shall, upon such election, forfeit the position to which he or she
had been appointed. [Amended 11-5-2002]
Any vacancy in any administrative office, from whatever cause
arising, shall be filled by the Board of Selectmen. Persons appointed
to fill vacancies in said administrative offices shall serve for the
unexpired portion of the term vacated if such office has a fixed term,
or shall serve for an indefinite term in the event no fixed term is
provided for such office.
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint a Town Clerk who shall
be qualified by training and experience and who shall serve for an
indefinite term. Said Town Clerk shall have all powers and duties,
not inconsistent with this Charter, conferred or imposed by the General
Statutes on town clerks, and such other powers and duties as are prescribed
in this Charter and as may be prescribed by the Board of Selectmen.
The Town Clerk may appoint and may remove, subject to the approval
of the Board of Selectmen, and subject to such rules and regulations
covering town employees as may be adopted by the Board of Selectmen
pursuant to the provisions of Chapter XI of this Charter, all deputies,
assistants, or employees in his or her office.
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint a Finance Officer, who
shall be chosen exclusively on the basis of technical and administrative
qualifications, character, education, training, and experience, and
who shall serve for an indefinite term. Said Finance Officer, shall
have the following powers and duties, together with such other powers
and duties as the Board of Selectmen may confer upon him or her:
(a)
The Finance Officer shall be the Town Treasurer and the agent of
the town deposit fund and all other town funds, and shall have all
the powers and duties, not inconsistent with this Charter, conferred
or imposed by the General Statutes on town treasurers;
(b)
He or she shall be responsible for the keeping and maintaining of
all accounts showing financial transactions for all departments, and
agencies of the town, including the Board of Education;
(c)
He or she shall prepare financial reports and submit the same to
the Board of Selectmen on a monthly basis and for such other periods
as may be required by the Board of Selectmen;
(d)
He or she shall prepare cash flow analysis and shall be responsible
for the investment of town funds;
(e)
He or she shall assist in the preparation of the annual budget and
in the presentation of the same to the Board of Finance;
(f)
He or she shall be responsible for the monthly reconciliation of
all bank accounts and shall establish procedures for the purposes
of internal auditing;
(g)
He or she shall maintain records of all fixed assets of the town;
(h)
He or she shall periodically review all insurance coverage carried
by the town, including the Board of Education, and shall recommend
to the Board of Selectmen adjustments and improvements in such coverage;
(i)
He or she shall familiarize the Board of Selectmen with all grants
and other state and federal programs available to the town or other
agency or commission and shall follow the instructions of the Board
of Selectmen with respect to the implementation of the same;
(j)
He or she shall purchase or cause to be purchased, subject to such
rules and regulations as shall be prescribed by the Board of Selectmen,
all supplies, materials, equipment and other commodities required
by any office or agency of the town, including the Board of Education,
to the extent that said Board of Education shall authorize him or
her to do so;
(k)
The Finance Officer may appoint and may remove, subject to the approval
of the Board of Selectmen and to such rules and regulations concerning
town employees as may be adopted by the Board of Selectmen pursuant
to the provisions of Chapter XII of this Charter, all deputies, assistants
or employees of his or her office;
(l)
He or she shall have authority over and be responsible for the Tax
Collector, Assessor, and their operations.
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint a Tax Collector who shall
be qualified by training and experience and who shall serve for an
indefinite term. Said Tax Collector shall have all the powers and
duties, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter, conferred
or imposed by the General Statutes on such officers and such powers
and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Selectmen. Said Tax
Collector may appoint and may remove, subject to the approval of the
Board of Selectmen and pursuant to the provisions of Chapter XII of
this Charter, all deputies, assistants or employees in his or her
office.
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint an Assessor who shall possess
such qualifications as are required for said office by the General
Statues and who shall serve for an indefinite term. Said Assessor
shall have all the powers and duties, not inconsistent with the provisions
of this Charter, conferred or imposed by the General Statutes on assessors
and such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board
of Selectmen. Said Assessor may appoint and may remove, subject to
the approval of the Board of Selectmen and subject to the rules and
regulations concerning town employees as may be adopted by the Board
of Selectmen pursuant to the provisions of Chapter XII of this Charter,
all deputies, assistants or employees in his or her office.
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint a Director of Emergency
Management who shall serve for a term of two (2) years. Said Director
of Emergency Management shall have all the powers and duties, not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter, conferred or imposed
by Section 28-7 of the General Statutes, as amended and such other
powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Selectmen.
[Amended 11-5-2002]
[Repealed 11-5-2002;
see Section 1021]
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint a Director of Public Works,
who shall possess such qualifications as are required for said office,
and who shall serve for an indefinite term. It shall be the duty of
the Department of Public Works to maintain, repair, clean, and remove
snow from all public streets and ways; maintain and operate storm
sewers and other drains; care for and maintain all town buildings
other than those under the jurisdiction of the Board of Education;
the Department of Public Works shall have exclusive control of the
care, maintenance and repair of the library building and physical
facilities and the library grounds; coordinate the Recycling Program;
prepare or supervise the preparation of plans and specifications for
the construction or reconstruction of streets, sidewalks, curbs, gutters,
storm sewers, drains, public buildings and other structures and construct
or supervise the construction of the same, provided that nothing herein
shall preclude the employment of engineers and architects on any such
project, or the appointment of citizen advisory committees on the
construction of school or other public building. Further duties of
the Public Works Department shall be to care for parks, grassed areas
in streets and public grounds; the Public Works Department shall maintain
all athletic fields and public beaches including those under the jurisdiction
of the Board of Education and the Parks and Recreation Commission;
to plant and care for trees within the street line; to enforce the
provisions of the building code, zoning ordinances, and ordinances
imposing on owners of property obligations to construct and maintain
sidewalks, curbs, gutters, storm sewers and drains; and perform such
other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Selectmen by ordinance.
Said Department of Public Works may contract with the town Water Pollution
Control Authority for the maintenance of the facilities and grounds
which come under the jurisdiction of the Water Pollution Control Authority.
The Director of Public Works shall appoint a Tree Warden. The Director
of Public Works shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Permanent
Building Committee. He or she may organize the Public Works Department
in such a manner as he or she shall deem most economical and efficient
and may make and enforce such reasonable rules and regulations not
inconsistent with the regulations of the General Statutes or the provision
of this Charter, as may be necessary to exercise the powers and duties
imposed on him or her by virtue of this provision of the Charter.
He or she may delegate such powers to subordinate employees and shall
have the authority to appoint and to remove, subject to the approval
of the Board of Selectmen and such rules and regulations concerning
town employees as may be adopted by the Board of Selectmen, all deputies,
assistants or employees in this department. [Amended 11-6-2018]
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint a Building Official who
shall possess such qualifications as are required for said office
by the General Statutes. Said Building Official shall serve for an
indefinite term. Said Building Official shall be the enforcement officer
of the building code of the town. He or she shall have all the powers
and duties, not inconsistent with this Charter, conferred or imposed
by the General Statutes on such offices and powers and duties as may
be prescribed by the Board of Selectmen. Said Building Official may
appoint and may remove, subject to the approval of the Board of Selectmen
and subject to such rules and regulations concerning town employees
as may be adopted by the Board of Selectmen pursuant to Chapter XII
of this Charter, all deputies, assistants or employees in his or her
office.
The Board of Selectmen may appoint a Town Engineer who shall
be a licensed civil engineer. Said Town Engineer shall serve for an
indefinite term. All powers and duties of said Town Engineer shall
be prescribed by the Board of Selectmen.
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint, not later than thirty
(30) days after the commencement of their first term of office under
the provisions of this Charter, a Town Attorney who shall serve for
a term of two (2) years. Said Town Attorney shall be an attorney at
law admitted to practice law in this state. Except as otherwise provided
by law, he or she shall appear for and protect the rights of the town
in all actions, suits, or procedures brought by or against it or any
of its departments, offices, agencies, boards, or commissions. He
or she shall be the legal advisor of the Board of Selectmen, First
Selectman, and all town officers, agencies, boards, or commissions
in all matters affecting the town and shall upon written request furnish
a written opinion on any questions of law involving their respective
powers and duties. Upon request he or she shall prepare or approve
forms of contracts of other instruments to which the town is a party
or in which it has an interest. He or she shall have the power, with
the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to appeal from orders, decisions,
and judgments, and subject to the approval of said Board of Selectmen,
to compromise or settle any claims by or against the town. If, in
special circumstances, or for investigation under Section 607 of this
Charter, the Board of Selectmen deems it advisable, they may by resolution
provide for the temporary employment of counsel other than, or in
addition to, the Town Attorney.
The First Selectman shall have the power to appoint Special
Constables, as that term is defined by section 7-92 of the Connecticut
General Statutes, as amended, for a term not to exceed one (1) year.
The above powers and duties as conferred or imposed upon the office
of constable as aforementioned may not apply to an office created
by the town's chief executive authority notwithstanding the name
or title given to such office. [Amended 11-6-2007]
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint and may remove a Town Director
of Health. The town may continue as a constituent unit of a Regional
Health District established pursuant to the provisions of Connecticut
General Statutes, Section 19a-240 through 246, inclusive, as amended.
For so long as the town continues as a constituent unit of said district,
the Director of Health for said district shall function as Town Director
of Health. [Amended 11-5-2002]
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint and may remove a Director
of Recreation who shall serve for an indefinite term. Said Director
of Recreation shall be in charge of the administration of the recreation
program in the town and shall be responsible for the implementation
of recreational policies approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission
and the Board of Selectmen. Said Director of Recreation may appoint
and may remove, subject to the approval of the Board of Selectmen
and subject to such rules and regulations concerning town employees
as may be adopted by the Board of Selectmen, all deputies, assistants
or employees in his or her office. [Amended 11-5-2002]
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint a Fire Marshal and such
deputies as may be required. Said Fire Marshal and such deputies shall
serve an indefinite term. The respective fire departments may offer
advisory recommendations for consideration by the Board of Selectmen
for any such appointments. Said Fire Marshal shall have all the powers
and duties not inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter, conferred
or imposed by the General Statutes on such offices and such powers
and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Selectmen. Said Fire
Marshal may appoint and remove deputies, assistants, and employees
in his or her office, subject to the approval of the Board of Selectmen
and subject to rules and regulations concerning town employees as
may be adopted by the Board of Selectmen. [Amended 11-7-2017]
[Repealed 11-6-2007;
see Section 1023]
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint an Animal Control Officer
and such deputies as may be required, who shall have all the powers
and duties not inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter, conferred
or imposed by the General Statutes, as amended, on such officers and
such powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Selectmen.
[Repealed 11-6-2007;
see Section 1023]
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint and may remove a Director
of Human Services who shall serve an indefinite term and who shall
possess such qualifications as are required for said office. The Director
of Human Services shall serve as the Welfare Officer for the town
and also shall be in charge of the administration of all welfare activities
of the town. Said Director of Human Services shall have all the powers
and duties, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter,
conferred or imposed by the General Statutes with regard to poor and
dependent persons and such other powers and duties as may be prescribed
by the Board of Selectmen. [Amended 11-5-2002]
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint a Town Planner who shall
serve an indefinite term and who shall possess such qualifications
as are required for said office. Said Town Planner shall:
(a)
Lead and coordinate reviewing/updating of the town Plan of Conservation
and Development;
(b)
Serve as technical advisor and administrative officer to the Planning
and Zoning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Inland Wetlands Agency,
Conservation Commission, Design Review Board and the Economic Development
Commission, assisting such commissions in the discharge of their statutory
duties; act as Zoning Enforcement and Wetlands Officer as necessary;
[Amended 11-7-2017]
(c)
Maintain up-to-date inventories, maps and related information of
wetlands, open space, and areas of ecological, biological, geological,
and hydrological significance. Aid the aforementioned commissions
in updating regulations, ordinances permits, etcetera;
(d)
Cooperate in the development of town capital improvement programs
and capital budget recommendations;
(e)
Prepare and present technical, statistical and narrative reports
and studies as assigned by the First Selectman, the Board of Selectmen,
and land use commissions.
Said Town Planner may appoint and may remove, subject to the
approval of the Board of Selectmen and subject to such rules and regulations
concerning town employees as may be adopted by the Board of Selectmen
pursuant to Chapter XI of this Charter, all deputies, assistants or
employees in his or her office. [Amended 11-6-2007]
Emergency Services to the Town of Ellington will be provided
by Ellington Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., Crystal Lake Fire District/Crystal
Lake Fire Department and Ellington Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc.
The Board of Selectmen shall execute a written contract with each
agency specifying details of such service. As a minimum, each contract
will delineate type and scope of services provided, primary response
areas, financial relationships, and reporting requirements between
the Town of Ellington and each agency. Each contract shall be reviewed
and revised as necessary by the Board of Selectmen and each agency
no less than biennially. [Added 11-6-2007; amended 11-6-2018]
In the event that any of the above named organizations become
incapable of providing the services as defined in their contract,
the Board of Selectmen may provide for other means of delivery of
emergency services in lieu of said volunteer company(s). [Added 11-6-2018]
