For the purpose of this Charter, unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise: words used in the present tense include the future
tense; words in the singular number include the plural number and
words used in the plural number include the singular; words used in
the masculine include the feminine and neuter; the word "shall" is
mandatory and the word "may" is permissive; where applicable, the
word "person" shall mean individuals, companies, corporations, public
or private, societies and associations.
Should any article, section or provision of this Charter be
held invalid or unlawful by a court of competent jurisdiction, such
holding shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Charter
nor the context in which said article, section or provision thereof
so held invalid may appear, except to the extent that an entire section
or part of a section may be inseparably connected in meaning and effect
with the article, section or provision to which such ruling shall
directly apply. If any article, section or provision of the Charter
shall be held invalid or unlawful by a court of competent jurisdiction,
then the article, section or provision of the Charter of the Town
in effect on November 8, 2016, pertinent to or dealing with the same
subject matter shall be considered to have remained in full force
and effect and shall be in full force and effect.
The captions in this Charter are for convenience only and are
not to be construed as part of this Charter and shall not be construed
as defining or limiting in any way the scope or intent of the provisions
hereof.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to abrogate or render
invalid any existing contract or contracts to which the Town is a
party existing as of November 8, 2016, and all such contracts shall
be carried out on behalf of the Town.
All bylaws and ordinances of the Town, not inconsistent herewith,
in force at the time this Charter shall take effect shall continue
in force until the same shall be repealed or amended in the manner
prescribed in this Charter.
All appropriations approved and in force and all funds, including
special reserve funds in the name of the Town as of November 8, 2016,
shall remain in full force and effect.
The Town of New Canaan is authorized to adopt a codification of, and codifying amendments to, those ordinances and by laws by the adoption of an ordinance under § C4-11 hereof stating in substance that the Code of Ordinances and Bylaws is adopted, and the requirements under said § C4-11 for publication in full of said codification of and codifying amendments to the ordinances and bylaws shall be deemed satisfied by filing two copies thereof in the office of the Town Clerk at least eight days before the effective date of the ordinance adopting the same.
Pursuant to the provisions of Special Acts of 1947, No. 434,
P605, the library directors of the Town of New Canaan shall not be
elected by the electors of the Town or be appointed by any officer
or officers of the Town.
No Special Legislation enacted after November 9, 2016, under
the provisions of Article 10 of the Constitution of the State of Connecticut
relating to or affecting the Town of New Canaan shall be valid or
effective unless the same is approved at a meeting of the Town Council
duly warned and held for that purpose within 60 days after the passage
of such Special Legislation.
On or before November 8, 2026, and at least every ten (10) years
thereafter, the Town Council shall consider and act upon a resolution
calling for the establishment of a Charter Revision Commission to
review and, if necessary, amend the Charter. The process of initiating
the Charter Revision Commission shall be governed by § 7-188
of the General Statutes.
This Charter shall become effective November 9, 2016.
