(a)
There shall be a Mayor who shall be elected in accordance with the
provisions of Chapter III of this Charter.
(b)
The Mayor shall be the full-time chief executive officer and chief
administrative officer of the Town and shall receive such compensation
as shall be recommended by the Town Council and approved in the annual
budget.
(c)
The Mayor shall not be a member of the Town Council and shall vote
at its meetings only to break a tie vote. The Mayor shall preside
at all meetings of the Town Council.
The Mayor or a member of the Town Council designated by him
shall be an ex-officio member of all other Town boards, commissions
and agencies, without power to vote.
(d)
The Town Council shall not diminish, by ordinance, vote or otherwise,
the powers and duties of the Mayor, except those powers and duties
imposed on him by the Town Council under the provisions of this section.
(e)
The Mayor, during the term of office for which he has been elected
and for one (1) year thereafter, shall not be eligible for employment
by the Town for compensation in any other position or office which
has been created, established or authorized during his term of office.
The Mayor shall be the chief executive officer directly responsible
for the administration of all departments, agencies, and persons or
boards and employees of the Town and shall supervise and direct the
same unless otherwise provided by this Charter.
The Mayor may, with the approval of the Town Council and subject
to such other limitations as are contained in this Charter and in
the Connecticut General Statutes, enter into contracts or agreements
with the United States Government or any branch thereof, or any federal
agency, the State of Connecticut or any agency or political subdivision
thereof, any person, or any other body politic or corporate.
The Mayor may, with the approval of a majority of the entire
Town Council, perform the duties of any administrative officer whom
he shall have the power to appoint; provided that the Town Council
shall by resolution determine that he is qualified to perform such
duties.
The Mayor shall:
(a)
See that all laws and ordinances governing the Town are faithfully
executed.
(b)
Make periodic reports to the Town Council on the conditions and affairs
of the Town and shall assist the Board of Finance in the preparation
of the Annual Town Report.
(c)
Preside over meetings of the Town Council and shall recommend to
the Town Council such measures as he may deem necessary or expedient
including, but not limited to, the right to introduce ordinances.
(d)
Keep the Town Council fully advised as to the financial condition
of the Town.
(e)
Prepare and submit to the Town Council and the Board of Finance an
annual budget as provided in Chapter VIII of this Charter. As part
of the budget the Mayor shall present a program of municipal improvements,
approved by the Town Council and previously approved in accordance
with the Connecticut General Statutes and Town ordinances for the
ensuing fiscal year and for the four (4) fiscal years thereafter.
Estimates of the costs of such projects shall be submitted by each
department, office, board, commission or agency annually by the first
business day in February in the form and manner prescribed by the
Mayor.
(f)
Exercise such other powers and duties as may be authorized by ordinance
and resolution of the Town Council not inconsistent with this Charter.
The Mayor shall have the powers, duties and responsibilities conferred
or imposed on that office by the General Statutes or by Special Act
except insofar as the same are inconsistent with the provisions of
this Charter.
(g)
Appoint and may remove, with the approval of a majority of the entire
Town Council, such administrative officers as are assigned to him
for appointment by the Charter, and such other assistants or employees
as may be required pursuant to the performance of the Mayor's
duties, subject to such rules and regulations concerning Town employees
as may be adopted by the Town Council pursuant to the provisions of
Chapter X of this Charter.
(a)
The Vice-Chairman shall serve as Acting Mayor in the event of the
absence, disability or incapacity of the Mayor for a period not exceeding
thirty (30) days. In such event the Vice-Chairman shall not exercise
the appointive or removal authority vested in the office of the Mayor
by this Charter. The Vice-Chairman, while acting as Mayor, shall not
retain his right to vote as a member of the Town Council, but shall
have the same voting right as Mayor in case of a tie vote.
(b)
In the event the Mayor is unable to perform the functions of his
office for any reason for a continuous period of thirty (30) days
or more, the Town Council shall appoint an Acting Mayor of the same
political party as the Mayor's party. The Acting Mayor shall
serve out the unexpired term unless and until notice is given of the
Mayor's return to office as provided below, and shall be compensated
on the same basis as the Mayor. When the Mayor returns, he must give
notice, in writing, to the Town Council of the Mayor's intentions
to take over his duties again and the Mayor shall do so after the
expiration of seven (7) days from date of receipt of the notice by
the Town Council.
