The powers which are conferred and the duties which are imposed upon any commission, board, agency, department or office under the General Statutes or any ordinance or regulation in force at the time this Charter shall take effect, if such commission, board, agency, department or office is abolished by this Charter or superseded by the creation herein of a new commission, board, agency, or office to which are granted similar powers and jurisdiction, shall be thereafter exercised and discharged by the commission, board, agency, department or office upon which are imposed corresponding or like functions, powers and duties under the provisions of this Charter. All commissions, boards, agencies, departments or offices abolished by this Charter, whether elective or appointive, shall continue in the performance of their duties until provisions have been made for the discontinuance of such commissions, boards, agencies, departments or offices and the performance of their duties by other commissions, boards, agencies, departments or offices created under this Charter.
All employees of the Town on the effective date of this Charter whose positions are not abolished by the provisions of this Charter shall retain such positions pending action by the Board of Selectmen or the appropriate officer charged by this Charter with powers of appointment and removal. Any provisions of law in force at the time that this Charter shall take effect, and not inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter, in relation to personnel, appointments, ranks, grades, tenure of office, promotions, removals, pension and retirement rights, civil rights or any other rights or privileges of employees of the Town or any office, department or agency thereof, shall continue to be in effect, until or unless amended or repealed in accordance with the provisions of this Charter.
All records, property and equipment whatsoever of any commission, board, authority, department or office part thereof, all powers and duties which are assigned to any other commission, board, department or office by this Charter shall be transferred and delivered intact forthwith to the commission, board, agency, department or office to which such powers and duties are so assigned. If part of the powers and duties of any commission, board, authority, department or office are by this Charter assigned to another commission, board, authority, department or office, all records, property and equipment relating exclusively thereto shall be transferred and delivered intact forthwith to the commission, board, authority, department or office to which such powers and duties are assigned.
All appropriations approved and in force, and all funds, including special or reserve funds in the name of the Town, at the time of the adoption of this Charter, shall remain in full force and effect unless and until the same shall be amended, transferred or abolished by the Board of Selectmen under the provision of this Charter.
No action or proceedings, civil or criminal, pending on the effective date of this Charter brought by or against the Town or any commission, board, authority, department or office thereof, shall be affected or abated by the adoption of this Charter or by anything herein contained; but all such actions or proceedings may be continued notwithstanding that functions, powers and duties of any commission, board, authority, department or office which shall have been a party thereto may, by or under this Charter, be assigned or transferred to another commission, board, authority, department or the officer to which such functions, powers and duties have been assigned or transferred by or under this Charter.
As of the effective date of this Charter, all general laws and special acts applying to the Town, all ordinances and bylaws of the Town, and all rules and regulations of commissions, boards, authorities, departments and agencies of the Town shall continue in force, except insofar as they are inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter or are repealed.
The Board of Selectmen shall review the several provisions of this Charter from time to time as it deems such review to be in the best interest of the Town, but at least once every five years, said review to be filed with the Town Clerk, who shall publish notice of receipt of said report. Amendments to this Charter shall be in accordance with C.G.S. Chapter 99, as the same may be from time to time amended.
If any section or part of any section of this Charter shall be held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction such holding shall not affect the remainder of this Charter nor the context in which said section or part thereof 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 section or part of the section to which such ruling shall directly apply.
Any elected or appointed member of any board, agency, commission or similar body who wishes to resign from office shall do so in writing to the Town Clerk with a copy forwarded to the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen and the Chairman of said agency or similar body. Said resignation shall become effective upon acceptance by a vote of the Board of Selectmen. Resignation by the Town Clerk shall be filed with the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. Vacancies shall be filled in accordance with Sections 208 and 703.
This Charter shall become effective upon the approval of a majority of the electors voting at a regular election on November 5, 2019, in accordance with the provisions of C.G.S. § 7-191, as amended; provided, however, no provision of this Charter shall be implemented until November 19, 2019.
Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, appointed officials serving a specific term on the effective date of this Charter shall continue to serve until the expiration of the term, unless the office or position is abolished. As terms expire or are vacated, the Selectmen may, as necessary make appointments for a short term in order to achieve the regular rotation of appointments so as to provide that members of appointed boards serve four-year overlapping terms.
Notice for public hearing, Town Meeting, and Annual Town Budget Referendum shall be given at least five days in advance by publication in a newspaper having a general circulation in the Town and by posting a notice in a public place, unless otherwise governed by state statute.