The Board of Selectmen shall consist of a First Selectman, to
be elected for a four-year term, and four other Selectmen, each to
be elected for a four-year term, with two Selectmen being elected
at each regular Town Election. A political party may nominate and
an elector may vote for the same number of candidates for the First
Selectman and the Board of Selectmen as there are members to be elected
to the Board at any election. The votes cast for an unsuccessful candidate
for First Selectman shall be counted as votes for that person as a
Selectman for a four-year term. Excluding the First Selectman, not
more than three members of the Board shall be of the same political
party. The Board of Selectmen shall elect from among its own members
a Deputy First Selectman who shall serve as acting First Selectman
during the absence of the First Selectman. No Selectman may hold any
other Town office or be an employee or contract employee of the Town,
except that a Selectman may be an employee of the Town's Board
of Education. For the purpose of this section, the term "Town office"
shall not include membership on temporary or advisory agencies.
The Board of Selectmen shall hold at least one regular meeting
per month. Special meetings of the Board of Selectmen may be called
at any time by the First Selectman or by any two Selectmen. The presence
of any three members of the Board of Selectmen shall constitute a
quorum, except as otherwise herein provided. A majority of the votes
cast at a meeting of the Board of Selectmen at which a quorum is present
at the time of the vote shall constitute the act of the Board of Selectmen
unless a greater vote is required by this Charter, by any ordinance
adopted by the Town, or by a General Statute or special act applicable
to the Town. At every meeting of the Board of Selectmen there shall
be set aside a specified time period for public participation during
which members of the public may address the Board.
The Board of Selectmen shall have all of the powers, duties,
and responsibilities conferred upon it (i) by this Charter and all
of the powers proper, incidental, or convenient to the exercise of
such powers; (ii) by any General Statute or any special act applicable
to the Town; and (iii) by any resolution or ordinance relating to
matters within the scope of authority of the Board of Selectmen that
is adopted by the Town. The Board of Selectmen shall be responsible
for having the Chief Administrative Officer carry out all acts and
policies of the Board of Selectmen, and all resolutions and ordinances
adopted by the Town.
The Board of Selectmen shall set policy and shall, directly
or by granting authority to the Chief Administrative Officer, authorize
action on all matters concerning the administration of the Town, except
for those matters for which the Town's Board of Education in
accordance with the General Statutes is responsible. The Board of
Selectmen shall not have policy-making powers relating to land use
boards and commissions and shall not have policy-making powers relating
to other agencies and officials which are inconsistent with the powers
granted to such other agencies and officials by the General Statutes.
The Board of Selectmen shall set policy and authorize action on all
matters concerning special revenue funds for recreation and emergency
medical services and other such funds that may be, from time to time,
established by the Town. The Board of Selectmen shall monitor the
current and projected administrative, governmental, and fiscal needs
of the Town.
The Board of Selectmen shall be empowered to function as the Town's legislative body as described in §
2.03 of this Charter.
There shall be a Police Department which shall be subject to
policies established by the Board of Selectmen. The Chief Administrative
Officer shall be responsible for the administration of the Police
Department and shall appoint and promote members of the Police Department
after consultation with the Chief of Police in accordance with policies
established by the Board of Selectmen. The Board of Selectmen, after
consultation with the Chief Administrative Officer, shall appoint
the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police may be discharged by the
Board of Selectmen only in accordance with the procedures applicable
to such discharge, as set forth in the General Statutes.