The First Selectman is the Chief Executive Officer of the Town
and shall preside over all meetings of the Board of Selectmen. The
First Selectman shall oversee the affairs of the Town.
The First Selectman shall be a non-voting, ex officio member
of all agencies, other than the Board of Selectmen, that are appointed
by the Board of Selectmen or elected by the Town, and shall be a non-voting,
ex officio member of the Board of Education, but shall not be a member
of the Board of Ethics.
In the event that severe or widespread conditions arise which
may affect the general health, safety, or welfare of the Townspeople
or their property and which make taking immediate action advisable,
the First Selectman or, in the absence of the First Selectman, the
Deputy First Selectman or, in the absence of both the First Selectman
and the Deputy First Selectman, another Selectman then appointed by
the Board of Selectman shall be empowered to declare, a temporary
state of emergency for a period not to exceed 120 hours. The First
Selectman or Deputy First Selectman or other appointed Selectman declaring
such state of emergency shall specify the reasons for the declaration
and the expected duration of the emergency. In the event that a Selectman,
other than the First Selectman or Deputy First Selectman, is appointed
by the Board of Selectmen in accordance with this Section and declares
a temporary state of emergency, such Selectman shall have and may
exercise the powers and authority of the First Selectman in the absence
of the First Selectman and Deputy First Selectman during such state
of emergency. After a state of emergency has been declared, the Board
of Selectmen shall convene a Board of Selectmen meeting as soon as
possible to ratify the emergency declaration and if warranted, to
extend the emergency declaration beyond 120 hours. Due and diligent
effort shall be made to give reasonable notice to all members of the
Board of Selectmen of the place and time for the Board of Selectmen
meeting. Upon a state of emergency having been declared, the Board
of Selectmen shall be empowered to adopt such resolutions and ordinances
as it deems necessary under the circumstances. Any resolution or ordinance
adopted by the Board of Selectmen during a declared state of emergency,
if not previously repealed or if not continued by Town Meeting action,
shall automatically cease to have any force and effect 60 days after
enactment.
The First Selectman or his or her designee shall negotiate labor
agreements for employees under the jurisdiction of the Board of Selectmen's
budget.
