All the inhabitants dwelling within the territorial limits of the Town of Winchester as the same now are or may hereafter be established by law shall constitute forever hereafter to be a body politic and corporate under the name of the "Town of Winchester", hereinafter called the Town, and as such shall have perpetual succession and may hold and exercise all powers and privileges heretofore exercised by said Town and not inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter, the additional powers and privileges herein conferred and all powers and privileges conferred upon towns under the general laws of the State of Connecticut.
A. 
Legislative Body. The legislative body of the Town shall be a combination of a Town Meeting and a Board of Selectmen, comprised of seven electors of the Town. Each body shall have such powers as the Charter herein prescribes.
B. 
Chief Executive Office. The Chief Executive Officer of the Town shall be a Town Manager, referred to herein as "Manager", appointed by the Selectmen, who shall have such powers and duties as the Charter herein prescribes.
C. 
Mayor. The First Selectman of the Town shall also bear the title of "Mayor" and shall have such duties and powers as the Charter herein prescribes.
D. 
Exercise of Power. All powers of the town shall be exercised in the manner prescribed by the Constitution of the State of Connecticut, by the General Statutes, or by this Charter; or, if the manner is not so prescribed, then in such manner as may be prescribed by resolution or ordinance.
E. 
Alternate Designation as Winsted. Any board, commission or agency of the Town may, with consent of the Board of Selectmen, use the appellation "Winsted" which, when so used, shall be considered as synonymous with "Town of Winchester".
By virtue of this Charter said Town shall be absolutely vested with, possess and enjoy all lands, tenements, hereditaments, property and rights, chooses in action and estates, which at the effective date of this Charter were vested in said Town. The said Town shall continue to be liable for all debts and obligations of every kind for which said Town shall have been liable on said date, whether accrued or not. Nothing herein shall be construed to affect the right of said Town to collect any assessment, charge, debt or lien for the construction, alteration or repair of any sewer, pavement, sidewalk curb or gutter, or for any other public improvement or service. If any contract has been entered into by said Town prior to the effective date of this Charter or any bond or undertaking has been given by or in favor of said Town which contains provision that the same may be enforced by any officer, board, commission, bureau or department therein named, which is hereby abolished, such contract, bond or undertaking shall be in no manner impaired but shall continue in full force and effect and the powers conferred and the duties imposed with reference to the same upon any such officer, board, commission, bureau or department shall, except as otherwise provided in this Charter, thereafter be exercised and discharged by the Board of Selectmen.
In addition to all powers granted to towns under the Constitution and the Connecticut General Statutes, the Town shall have all powers specifically granted by this Charter and Sections 7-148 and 7-194, of the Connecticut General Statutes as may be from time to time amended, and all powers fairly implied in or incident to the powers expressly granted, and all other powers incident to the management of the property, government and affairs of the Town, including the power to enter contracts with the United States, State of Connecticut, or any political subdivision thereof for services, funds, and the use of facilities, the exercise of which is not expressly forbidden by the Constitution and general law of the State of Connecticut. Further, the Town shall have the power to manage, regulate, and control the finances and property, real and personal, of the Town and to regulate and provide for the sale, conveyance, transfer and release of town property, and to provide for the execution of contracts and evidences of indebtedness issued by the Town. The enumeration of particular powers in this and any other section of this Charter shall not be construed as limiting this general grant of power but shall be considered as an addition thereto.
All contracts, deeds, bonds and other instruments requiring assent of the Town shall be signed by the First Selectman or Town Manager as designated by resolution of the Board of Selectmen.
All by-laws, ordinances, rules and regulations of the Town of Winchester in force on the date of the adoption of this Charter, which are not inconsistent with the provision of this Charter, shall be and remain in full force and effect as the by-laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations of the Town of Winchester. They shall be in force until they are altered, amended, or repealed as provided by this Charter. All powers, rights and duties vested in and imposed upon the officers, boards, commissions, departments and agencies of the Town of Winchester, by said by-laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations are hereby vested in and imposed upon the corresponding officers, boards, commissions, departments and agencies of the Town of Winchester provided for by this Charter.