The legislative power of the Town shall be vested in the town
meeting. Members of the town meeting shall be electors of the Town
and all others entitled, pursuant to the laws of the State, to vote
at a town meeting.
The Annual Town Meeting shall be held on the fourth Monday of
January of each year to accept the Annual Report and to transact any
other business properly coming before the town meeting. It may be
adjourned from time to time as the interest of the Town may require.
The Annual Report shall be made available to the public ten
days prior to such meeting.
Special town meetings may be called by the Board at its discretion
and when required under the terms of this Charter and in the manner
provided by the laws of the State. Ten days' notice of which
shall be given by publication in a newspaper having a substantial
circulation in the Town.
(Amended November 6, 2012, effective December 6, 2012)
All town meetings shall be called to order by the First Selectman or, in his absence, as provided in Section 4-2 of this Charter. A moderator shall be elected, and all business conducted in the manner provided by the laws of the State, except as otherwise provided in this Charter. The Town Clerk shall serve as clerk of all town meetings but in the Town Clerk's absence, an acting clerk may be designated by the moderator. Town meetings should be held at a time of day which would encourage the greatest participation of the public whenever possible.
Legal notice and the text of any proposed ordinance shall be
posted in the Town Clerk's office and public place or places
as the Board shall prescribe.
The Annual Town Budget Meeting for the consideration of the
budget shall be convened in accordance with this Charter and shall
be held on the first Tuesday in June. A moderator shall be elected,
and all business conducted in the manner provided by this Charter
and the laws of the State. The Town Clerk shall serve as clerk of
the Annual Town Budget Meeting, but in the Town Clerk's absence
an acting clerk may be designated by the moderator.
The Board shall call a town meeting for consideration of any
of the following actions:
A.
adoption of a town budget;
B.
any resolution appropriating more than .1% in excess of the annual
budget;
C.
any resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds and all other forms
of financing, the terms of which exceed one year;
D.
real estate purchases by the Town;
E.
any sale or transfer of real property or any interest therein of
the Town except property acquired by tax foreclosure;
F.
real estate leases or lease options to which the Town is a party
for terms in excess of three years;
G.
adoption of town ordinances;
H.
such matters or proposals as may be required by the provisions of
this Charter, or as the Board, in its discretion, shall deem to be
of sufficient importance to warrant town meeting consideration.
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Any such action shall become effective only after it has been
approved by a majority of those present and voting at such meeting.
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(Amended November 6, 2012, effective December 6, 2012; Amended
November 3, 2020, effective December 3, 2020)
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A petition may be filed with the Town Clerk and signed by no
fewer than fifty electors of the Town petitioning for warning and
convening of a town meeting. Said petition shall be in accordance
with the provisions of the laws of the State and contain the matter
or text of the proposal to be considered at said town meeting. The
Town Clerk shall within ten days determine whether or not the petition
contains the required number of valid signatures, and if it does,
shall so certify to the Board within said ten days. Said petition
may propose consideration of any matter proper to come before a town
meeting except a resolution on:
(1)
appointing or removing officials;
(2)
specifying the compensation or hours of work of officials and employees;
(3)
adopting the annual budget;
(4)
authorizing the levy of taxes; or,
(5)
fixing the tax rate.
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Upon receipt of such certification from the Town Clerk, the
Board shall within thirty days convene a town meeting, duly warned,
which meeting may be adjourned from time to time as the interest of
the Town requires.
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At any time prior to the date of the meeting, the petitioner
may withdraw the petition. At said town meeting, the only matters
that may be considered shall be those matters set forth in said petition.
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Any proposal made in such petition shall be examined by the
Town Counsel prior to the town meeting; and prior to or at the town
meeting the Town Counsel shall give his opinion to the Board, orally
or in writing, with respect to the form of the proposal and its conformity
to and relationship with existing constitutions, statutes, special
acts, this Charter, ordinances and regulations.
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