A. 
Powers and Purposes. In addition to the Departments specifically set forth in this Charter, the City, acting within the powers and duties enumerated in the General Statutes, any applicable Special Acts and this Charter may establish, by Ordinance, such Departments necessary to carry out and organize the functions of government. The express intent of this Charter is to afford the Mayor and the Common Council the ability to organize the government in order to achieve a balance of efficiency and service to the people of the City consistent with the provisions herein.
B. 
Creation of Departments. All Departments of the City may, from time to time, be established by Ordinance. All employees of any Department shall be subject to the City of Middletown Personnel Rules and Classification Plan. The Common Council shall have the power to prescribe by Ordinance the powers, duties and privileges of each Department, not inconsistent with any of the provisions contained herein.
1. 
Each of these Departments shall be constituted to perform such functions and have such powers and duties as are imposed by the General Statutes, this Charter and Ordinances.
2. 
The Department Heads of each Department established by Ordinance shall be subject to the provisions of this Charter, Ordinances and Law generally applicable to Department Heads.
3. 
All Departments shall be entitled to office space provided by the City and shall remain open during such hours as the Mayor may direct.
C. 
Reorganization Plans.
1. 
The delineation of departmental categories in this Charter is advisory and may be altered pursuant to a reorganization plan proposed by the Mayor and approved by the Common Council. Accordingly, any departmental categories may be reorganized and Department Heads may be reassigned (unless otherwise prohibited by Law). The reorganization plan is subject to the limitation that all governmental functions set forth in this Charter shall continue to be provided to the residents of the City; unless such function was eliminated as the result of a repealed Federal or State mandate and not otherwise in the best interest of the City to continue. Moreover, any reorganization plan shall include specific reference to the departmental function(s) set forth in this Charter that will be carried out in said reorganization and shall be accompanied by an opinion of the General Counsel verifying that the reorganized function complies with the Charter requirements.
2. 
Any internal departmental reorganization plan proposed by a Department Head, pertaining to non-budgetary matters, shall be forwarded to the Mayor for review, approval and final action, prior to announcement and implementation of the plan by the Department.
D. 
Effect of Charter on Departments. Every Department, Authority, Board, or Commission, existing on the effective date of this Charter, shall continue in existence as if established by Ordinance until merged or eliminated by Ordinance pursuant to Chapter III, Section 6 of this Charter.
A. 
Appointment and Confirmation. Each Department shall have a Department Head who shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Common Council. Each such Department Head shall devote full time to the duties of office and shall be responsible to and report to the Mayor.
B. 
Removal. The Mayor shall have the power to remove any Department Head for cause but, in no case, may any Department Head be removed for political reasons. In the event of dismissal of any Department Head, the Mayor shall notify said Department Head, in writing, of such action and the reasons therefore not more than one (1) month prior to the effective date of such dismissal. The applicable provisions of the General Statutes shall be taken into consideration with regard to the removal proceedings of the City/Town Clerk, Chief of Police, Fire Chief, Fire Marshal, Building Official and any other Officials designated for protection by the General Statutes.
C. 
General Requirements.
1. 
Each of these Departments shall be constituted to perform such functions and have such powers and duties as are imposed by the General Statutes, this Charter and Ordinances.
2. 
Qualifications and Authority of Department Heads. The job qualifications of all Department Heads, in addition to those enumerated in this Charter, by the General Statutes or Special Act shall be established by job description, approved by the Common Council. Said job qualifications shall be prepared in accordance with nationally accepted professional standards and best practices in the applicable field and shall be reviewed and updated, if necessary, every four (4) years and whenever a Vacancy occurs in the position.
3. 
Compensation. The salaries and compensation of all Officials, Department Heads and employees of the City shall be set by job description and Order or through the budget, except where otherwise fixed by the General Assembly or as otherwise covered by the Personnel Rules, collective bargaining agreement(s), or contract.
4. 
Surety Bonds of Certain City Officials. The City shall purchase surety bonds for any position required to have a bond under state or federal law or for any position that the Risk Manager recommends should have a bond due to its duties and responsibilities.
5. 
Position Titles. The position titles of the Department Heads set forth in this Charter reflect the title at the time of the adoption of this Charter. Titles may be changed; however, the functions and fiduciary obligations specifically set forth in this Charter shall not be altered.
A. 
Creation of Position. There shall be such assistant Department Heads as may be provided by Ordinance, who shall serve as assistant to the various Department Heads of the City.
B. 
Appointment and Confirmation. Each assistant Department Head shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Common Council.
C. 
Duties and Responsibilities. Each such assistant Department Head shall be responsible to and report to the Department Head and shall devote full time to the duties and responsibilities of the Department. Each such assistant Department Head shall be removed or disciplined only in the same manner as Department Heads.