The appointment and dismissal of all employees of the Town,
except those who are elected or are under the jurisdiction of the
Board of Education, the Fire Commission, or the Police Commission,
shall be made by the Selectmen. All appointments shall be made on
the basis of merit and after examination as to fitness. Before the
appointment or dismissal of any paid employee, the Selectmen shall
consult with the board, commission, committee, officer, department
or individual to whom the services of such employee are to be or have
been rendered.
The Selectmen shall review and revise or establish when necessary
a plan of classification and compensation for all Town employees whose
appointment or dismissal is under the jurisdiction of the Selectmen
or of the Fire Commission or Police Commission.
The Board of Selectmen shall recommend to the Town Council the
enactment of any bylaws or ordinances necessary to give effect to
any classification or compensation plan or plans or any changes therein.
Any ordinance so adopted by the Town Council shall provide a merit
system of personnel administration.
There shall be an ordinance establishing a Code of Ethics enacted
by the Town Council setting forth standards of ethical conduct for
all town officials, including members of boards and commissions, whether
such town officials and members are elected, appointed, regular or
alternate, and all employees of the Town, Board of Education, and
Police Commission, whether paid or unpaid.
There shall be an Ethics Board of five members who shall be
electors of the Town. The members shall serve without compensation
and shall hold no other office of trust or emolument in the Town government.
Service on committees of the Town government is not prohibited by
this section, provided that such service does not create a conflict
of interest as defined in the Town Code of Ethics.
On or promptly after the first day of December, 2016, the Selectmen
shall appoint, subject to confirmation by an affirmative vote of seven
members of the Town Council, two members of the Ethics Board to serve
a term of three years, two additional members of the Ethics Board
to serve a term of two years, and one member to serve a term of one
year. On or promptly after the first day of December, 2017, the Selectmen
shall appoint, subject to confirmation by an affirmative vote of seven
members of the Town Council, one member of the Ethics Board to serve
a term of three years. Thereafter, on a three year cycle, the Selectmen
shall appoint, annually on or promptly after the first day of December,
subject to confirmation by an affirmative vote of seven members of
the Town Council, members of the Ethics Board for a term of three
years, with two members to be appointed the first year, two members
to be appointed the second year, and one member to be appointed the
third year. Each member, after qualification, shall hold office from
their initial appointment and until a successor has been appointed
and shall have qualified. In the event of a vacancy due to death,
resignation, or removal, within sixty (60) days of such vacancy the
Selectmen shall appoint, subject to confirmation by an affirmative
vote of seven members of the Town Council, a successor member of the
Committee. There shall be minority representation on the Board in
accordance with § 9-167a of the General Statutes.
On or promptly after the first day of December in each year
the Ethics Board shall meet at the call of the First Selectman to
choose one of its members to be Chairman and one of its members to
be Secretary. The Chairman shall, when present, preside at all meetings
of the Board and shall have a vote as a member thereof. The Secretary
shall file in the office of the Town Clerk a full and detailed record
of all proceedings, acts and resolutions of the Board, including the
votes of each member on all actions taken, and such record shall be
a public record. Three members shall be a quorum for the transaction
of business at any meeting.
The Ethics Board shall operate in accordance with the Town Ethics
Board Ordinance and pursuant to Section 7-148h of the Connecticut
General Statutes, and it shall have the following general powers and
duties:
A.
Review and recommend modifications, if any, to the Town Code of Ethics
and the Town Ethics Board Ordinance for adoption by the Town Council;
B.
Receive, review and address, in accordance with the Town Ethics Board
Ordinance, its own rules and regulations and Section 7-148h of the
Connecticut General Statutes, written complaints of alleged violations
of the Town Code of Ethics by a Town officer, member of the Town Council,
an official, member of a board, commission or committee, or any employee
of the Town, including an official or employee of the Board of Education.
All written complaints must be submitted to the Town Attorney for
recording and prompt notification to the Ethics Board.
C.
Hear appeals of complaints from any employee aggrieved as to the
status or condition of employment, except employees governed by the
Board of Education and collective bargaining agreements, after such
employee follows the grievance procedures provided by the Town of
New Canaan Employee Handbook.
D.
Render advisory opinions and interpretations as to conflicts of interest
arising under the Town Code of Ethics for all Town officers, members
of the Town Council, and for all officials, members of boards, commissions
and committees, and all employees of the Town, including officials
and employees of the Board of Education.
