(a) 
Except as in ad hoc assignments, and as provided for in Section 407 and Section 410 all members of boards, commissions and committees shall be appointed by the appointing authority for a two-year term. The terms of all such appointees shall terminate on the same date as the term of the appointive authority except such appointees shall continue to serve until their successors are appointed and qualify.
(b) 
Boards, commissions, and committees charged with ad hoc assignments as opposed to standing committees will serve until the assignment has been completed or eliminated.
(c) 
All members of all appointed boards, committees, commissions and ad hoc committees shall serve without monetary compensation, monetary value or in-kind benefit, whatsoever.
Minority representation on all boards, commissions, committees, departments, or similar bodies, whether elective or appointive shall be in accordance with the following table:
Total Membership
Maximum Number of Members of the Same Political Party
3
2
4
3
5
3
6
4
7
4
8
5
9
6
(a) 
Those boards, commissions. committees, departments, or similar bodies, whether elective or appointive with more than nine (9) members shall have no more that 2/3 of their members from the same political party.
(b) 
Vacancies in appointed positions shall be posted on the Town website for a minimum of five days prior to the appointing authority taking action on any final appointments. Any person affiliated with a party or not so affiliated shall have the ability to submit their name to the appointing authority. The appointing authority shall give due consideration to the recommendations of the major political parties before final appointments are made.
The Council shall appoint a Moderator and a Deputy Moderator whose duties shall be to conduct such Town Meetings as may occur. The Council shall designate rules of order for the conduct of said meetings at the time the Moderator and Deputy Moderator are appointed.
The Town Council shall appoint a Library Board of Directors to consist of seven (7) electors of the Town, not more than four (4) of whom shall belong to any one political party. The Library Board of Directors shall appoint the Town Librarian and library employees and carry out all other duties as prescribed by General Statutes and Town Ordinance. Terms of office shall be consistent with this Charter.
The Council shall appoint three (3) alternates to the Zoning Board of Appeals, not more than two of whom shall belong to any one political party, with duties as prescribed by General Statutes. Their terms shall run concurrent with those of the elected members of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The Council shall appoint a Building Code Board of Appeals consisting of three (3) electors of the Town, not more than two (2) of whom shall belong to any one political party, with duties as prescribed by State Ordinance, and with terms to be consistent with provisions of this Charter.
(a) 
A Board of Ethics is hereby created which shall consist of no less than three (3) and no more than five (5) members, the exact number to be provided by ordinance, serving without compensation who shall be appointed by the Council and who shall be resident electors of the Town.
(b) 
No member shall be an employee of the Town or hold any appointed or elected office of the Town.
(c) 
Notwithstanding any provision of this Charter to the contrary, the initial term of such members shall be staggered as provided by ordinance of one (1), two (2), and three (3) years respectively. Upon the expiration of each of such terms, the vacancies shall be filled by a term of three (3) years.
(d) 
The duties and authority of said Board shall be as prescribed by Sections 7-148h and 182a subsections (a) to (e) inclusive of the Connecticut General Statutes and local ordinance.
(a) 
The Mayor, with the approval of the Council, shall appoint a Chief of Police. The term of employment shall be for a period of no more than three (3) years renewable upon reappointment by the Mayor with the approval of the Town Council. The Chief of Police shall be responsible to the Mayor and may be removed only for cause, with approval of the Town Council and pursuant to General Statutes.
(b) 
The Chief of Police shall assign to, and may remove from, their respective posts, shifts, details and duties, all officers and employees of the department. He or she shall establish written rules and regulations concerning the operation of the department and the conduct of all officers and employees thereof. He or she shall be answerable to the Mayor for the efficiency, discipline and good conduct of the department, and for the care and custody of all property used by the department. Any appointments to the department must be made with the recommendation of the Chief of Police and the approval of the Mayor. Any promotions in the department must be made with the recommendation of the Mayor and Chief of Police.
(c) 
Subject to the approval of the Mayor, the Chief of Police shall appoint, and may remove for cause, a dog warden, whose powers and duties shall be those as defined by General Statutes.
(d) 
All officers and other members of the Police Department who have attained tenure under the written rules of the department may be removed only for cause. Disobedience to the lawful orders, rules and regulations of the Chief of Police shall be grounds for appropriate disciplinary action and any disciplinary removal must be by recommendation of the Mayor and Chief of Police with approval of the Town Council.
(e) 
The police chief shall submit to the Town Council a promotion policy and organizational chart for approval within three months of ratification of this charter. No promotions may be made without a current Council approved promotion policy and organizational chart in place. Promotions within the Police Department shall be made according to the approved promotion policy and organizational chart. All promotions recommended by the police chief in accordance with the approved promotion policy and organizational chart shall be submitted to the Mayor and the Town Council for final approval. Subsequent revisions to the Police Department promotion policy and organizational chart must be submitted to the Town Council for approval.
(A)
CIVILIAN POLICE REVIEW BOARD
(a) 
General: There shall be a Civilian Police Review Board (CPRB), which will receive, investigate and make appropriate recommendations to the Mayor and Chief of Police of the Town of Wolcott regarding complaints of citizens not excluding employees of the Police Department, against members of the Wolcott Police Department and/or civilian employees thereof.
(b) 
Powers and Duties of Board: The CPRB shall be notified by the Mayor's Office, the Chief of Police and or any individual member of CPRB of any and all complaints against members of the Wolcott Police Department and/or civilian employees thereof whether such complaints be written, oral or anonymous.
The CPRB shall be provided with all police documents, reports, electronic transmission, videotape and any other transcriptions related to any civilian complaint. (The Chief of Police may take appropriate actions to maintain the security of police documents, reports, electronic transmissions and videotape reviewed by CPRB) The CPRB may request the Chief of Police conduct appropriate internal affairs investigations of serious complaints against members or civilian employees of the police department. The CPRB shall review the conclusions of any internal affairs investigation of a complaint prior to any disciplinary action being taken and recommend further investigation to the Chief of Police if appropriate. The CPRB may request written statements made under oath through the Chief of Police from any member or civilian employee of the department and of the complainant in order to fully investigate any complaint. The CPRB shall make a written report of their investigation and findings and their recommendation as to discipline to be taken if any regarding all complaints, when appropriate, to the Mayor and Chief of Police, however, the CPRB shall not have authority to impose discipline. The Chief of Police and/or Mayor, where appropriate, shall make the decision regarding discipline. The Chief of Police and/or Mayor shall explain his or her disciplinary action in writing for each complaint if different from the recommendation of the CPRB.
(c) 
The Civilian Police Review Board shall consist of five members, no more than three of whom shall be members of the same political party.
(i) 
Town Council Representative: One Town Council member shall serve as a liaison to the CPRB.
(ii) 
Appointments; term of office. No later than January 1, 2011, the Mayor with Town Council approval shall appoint five (5) members for a term of two (2) years and thereafter, in accordance with Section 401.
(iii) 
No Compensation. Members shall serve without compensation.
(d) 
Organization of Civilian Police Review Board: During January 2011 and January of each odd numbered year thereafter, the Board shall select from among its members a chair, vice chair and such other officers as it may desire.
(i) 
Secretary and record keeping. The Mayor shall appoint a secretary to the Board which secretary may not be a member of the Board. The Town Clerk shall act as record keeper for the Board.
(ii) 
Meeting Schedule. The Board shall meet no less than two times per year. The organizational meeting shall be no more than 30 days after the appointment process of each term.
(iii) 
Authority and actions of members. No member shall have any authority to act on behalf of the Board except pursuant to an order regularly made at a meeting of the Board.
(iv) 
Quorum and voting requirements. Three members shall constitute a quorum and a concurrent vote of no fewer than three members shall be necessary for the transaction of business.
(v) 
Public meetings and public participation. All meetings, except executive sessions, as defined in the State Freedom of Information Act or any successor thereto, shall be public. At the start of each regularly scheduled public meeting the Board shall allot a minimum of 15 minutes for public speaking, with a minimum of three minutes per speaker.
(vi) 
Bylaws. The Board shall have the power to adopt its own bylaws for the conduct of its business accordance with the provisions of this code.
(a) 
There shall be an Assessor who shall be hired by the Town Council and shall be responsible to the Mayor. Said Assessor shall be certified or seeking certification by the State of Connecticut and appointed on the basis of his or her executive and administrative qualifications.
(b) 
The position of the Assessor shall hold no other elected or appointed position within the government of the Town of Wolcott or the State of Connecticut, notwithstanding other provisions of the Charter.
(c) 
The Assessor shall have all the powers and duties conferred on Assessors by the General Statutes and such other duties as may be assigned to him or her by ordinance or the direction of the Mayor.
(d) 
The Town Council shall appoint an interview committee made up of: Two minority members, two majority members, the Mayor and two additional members with municipal financial experience or property assessment experience. The interview committee shall submit to the full Council a finalist.
(e) 
The appointment or reappointment of an Assessor shall occur with approval of the Town Council. The term of employment shall be for a two year contracted period approved by the Council that shall begin July 1, 2005. Sixty days prior to the expiration of the contract, the Town Council must vote to renew or non-renew that contract. In the case of non-renewal of the existing contract, the interview committee shall convene and proceed in accordance with this Charter.
The Mayor shall appoint a Planning and Zoning Commission subject to the approval of the Council which shall consist of five (5) electors of the Town, not more than three (3) of whom shall belong to any one political party, with duties as prescribed by the General Statutes.
(a) 
Terms of Office shall be as follows: Pursuant to General Statutes, no more than three commissioners may be replaced at any one time. Terms and appointments shall be as follows: Beginning January 1, 2006, the appointing authority shall appoint three (3) members to a one-year term and two (2) members to a two-year term. Beginning January 1, 2007, those positions whose one-year term has expired will then be appointed to a two-year term. From that point forward, all positions shall be appointed to a two-year term. Such appointees shall continue to serve until their successors are appointed and qualify. At the conclusion of municipal elections and appointments to the Commission, an organizational meeting shall be held at their next scheduled meeting.
(a) 
The Mayor shall appoint a Building Inspector who shall be certified by the State of Connecticut. The Building Inspector may appoint, with the approval of the Mayor, an Electrical Inspector and a Plumbing Inspector, each of whom shall be certified by the State of Connecticut.
(b) 
All shall perform duties as prescribed by Local Ordinance and General Statutes.
The Mayor shall appoint a Director of Civil Preparedness and Advisory Council which shall be composed as provided in General Statutes. The Civil Preparedness organization shall have all the powers and duties inferred or imposed on Civil Preparedness organizations by General Statutes.
The Mayor shall appoint a Fire Marshal with Town Council approval who shall be qualified and shall perform the duties and serve as prescribed by General Statutes.
(a) 
There shall be a Municipal Finance Officer who shall be hired by the Town Council and shall be responsible to the Mayor.
The current town council appointed auditing firm shall submit to the Town Council for its approval qualification criteria to be followed by an interview committee. This qualification criteria must be adopted by the Town Council within 30 days of ratification of this charter. No appointment or reappointment may be made without a current council approved qualification criteria policy in place.
The Town Council shall appoint an interview committee made up of: The Mayor, Two Minority Council Members, Two Majority Council Members and One nonvoting Member of the Town Appointed Auditing Firm. The interview committee shall submit to the full Council a finalist.
The appointment or reappointment of a Municipal Finance Officer shall occur only with a minimum of seven (7) affirmative votes of the Council. The term of employment shall be for a two year contracted period approved by the Council that shall begin July 1st on non election years, retroactive to July 1, 2002. Sixty days prior to the expiration of the contract, the Town Council must vote to renew or non-renew that contract. In the case of non-renewal of the existing contract, the interviewing committee shall convene and proceed in accordance with this Charter. Should a vacancy occur in this position prior to the second year contracted date the Chief Accountant shall assume the position of the Municipal Finance Officer on an interim basis not to exceed 6 months.
(b) 
The position of the Municipal Finance Officer shall be a full-time, paid position and the Municipal Finance Officer shall hold no other elected or appointed position within the government of the Town of Wolcott or the State of Connecticut.
(c) 
The salary for this position shall be established in accordance with the provisions of Section 710 of this Charter.
(d) 
The Municipal Finance Officer shall be skilled in fiscal matters by education, training and work experience and shall be responsible for the purchase of supplies and services unless otherwise provided in this Charter, for all Town Boards, Commissions, Departments, Agencies, Authorities, Committees and Offices which presently exist or which may come into existence through Ordinance, for the payment of all accounts payable by the Town, and for the reconciliation of all Town accounts not under the jurisdiction of the Town Treasurer or Tax Collector.
(e) 
All procedures used in executing these responsibilities shall be in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and practices, the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut, where they may apply, the Charter of the Town of Wolcott, where it may apply, and shall also have the prior approval of the Town Council.
(f) 
The Municipal Finance Officer shall exercise authority over budgeted expenditures and ensure that each Government unit is spending within the limits of its budget. He or she also will ensure that all necessary procedures have been followed to ensure the procurement of quality services and supplies, timely delivered, at the lowest possible price.
(g) 
The Municipal Finance Officer shall assist the Mayor in the annual budget preparation process.
(h) 
With regard to the continuing reconciliation of the Town accounts during the fiscal year and the preparation of budgets, the Municipal Finance Officer may request, in writing, any information deemed by him or her to be necessary to the successful completion of these tasks from the offices of the Town Clerk, Treasurer, Tax Collector, Assessor, Board of Assessment Appeals, Board of Education, Town Council and all Governmental units heretofore listed.
(i) 
Failure to comply with such a request in a timely manner shall be considered malfeasance of office and the elected or appointed official in charge of the non-complying officer or unit shall be subject to such action as may be provided for in the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut relative to malfeasance of office.
(a) 
The Mayor shall, not later than one (1) month after taking office, appoint a Town Attorney to serve at his pleasure, who shall be an attorney at law admitted to practice law in this State and who need not be a full-time employee of the Town. The Town Attorney or his duly qualified representative shall appear for and protect the rights of the Town in all actions, suits, or proceedings brought by or against it or any of its departments, officers, agencies, boards or commissions. The Town Attorney shall have the power, by and with the consent of the Mayor to retain additional temporary counsel to aid him on behalf of the Town in the conduct of his office, if, in his opinion, the interest of the Town so requires. The Mayor shall be required to inform the Town Council of this action at their next regularly scheduled meeting. The Town Attorney shall be the legal advisor to all town officers, boards, commissions and agencies in all matters affecting the legal rights of the Town and shall upon written request of the Mayor or council furnish them with a written opinion on any question of law involving the respective powers and duties of all Town officers, boards, commissions and agencies.
(b) 
The Town Attorney or his duly qualified representative shall be present at all meetings which the Mayor or Council shall require.
(c) 
Upon request of the Mayor or Town Council, the Town Attorney shall prepare or approve contracts, agreements, or other documents affecting the legal interests of the town.
(d) 
The Town Attorney shall have the power, with the approval of the Town Council, to compromise or settle any claim by or against the Town and to appeal or defend any appeal taken from orders, decisions and judgments affecting the legal rights of the Town.
(e) 
Should the occasion arise wherein the Town Attorney concludes that a conflict of interest exists in which there is an inability to ethically represent the interests of the Town, or any office, agency or department thereof, then the Mayor and Town Council shall be so advised of the existence of such conflict. Upon being so advised, the Mayor shall appoint another practicing attorney to represent the legal interests of the Town in that particular matter. The Mayor shall be required to inform the Town Council of this action at their next regularly scheduled meeting. In cases wherein a conflict involves the legal interests of the Mayor as against any other board, commissions, agency officer or the Council, the Town Attorney shall represent the Mayor. That entity with legal interests adverse to the Mayor shall have the authority to hire its own attorney, subject to the approval of the Council.
(f) 
In any conflict of interest situation, as determined by the Town Attorney, between or among any other entities of the Town not involving the Mayor, the Town Attorney shall represent that entity designated by the Mayor while the entity with interests adverse to that represented by the Town Attorney shall have the authority, with approval by the Council, to engage the services of a practicing attorney to represent its interests in said matter.
(g) 
All Departments, Boards, Commissions, and the Board of Education, Superintendant and Managers shall forthwith submit a copy of all legal notice of claims, suits, and actions of any kind to the Town Attorney.
There shall be a Conservation, Inland Wetlands and Water Courses Commission established in accordance with the General Statutes.
The Mayor shall appoint with approval of the Town Council seven (7) electors of the Town of Wolcott, not more than four (4) of whom shall belong to any one political party, with duties as prescribed by General Statutes, and Town Ordinance. The terms of all members will be consistent with the term of the Mayor. The Mayor shall appoint with the approval of the Town Council three (3) alternate members to the Commission not more than two (2) of whom shall belong to any one political party.
The Mayor shall appoint an Economic Development Commission which shall consist of seven (7) electors of the Town, not more than four of whom shall belong to any one political party, with duties as prescribed by Town Ordinance and with terms to be consistent with provisions of this Charter
The Mayor shall appoint a Parks and Recreation and Acquired Facilities Commission which shall consist of seven (7) electors of the Town, not more than four (4) of whom shall belong to any one political party, with the duties as prescribed by Town Ordinance, and with terms to be consistent with the provisions of this Charter.
The Mayor shall appoint a Sewer and Water Commission which shall consist of six (6) electors of the Town, not more than four of whom shall belong to any one political party, with duties as prescribed by Town Ordinance and terms of office consistent with this Charter.
(a) 
There shall be a Commission on Aging, with duties prescribed by General Statutes and Town Ordinance and terms to be consistent with provisions of this Charter.
(b) 
Duties - The Commission shall study all needs and conditions of elderly persons in the Town in relation to housing, economics, employment, health, transportation, recreational needs and other matters. It shall analyze the services to the aged provided by the Town, both public and private agencies and shall make recommendations to the Mayor regarding development of such programs and the integration of the same with the services made available by the State.
The Mayor shall appoint a Commission for Individuals with Special Needs, consisting of twelve (12) electors of the Town, no more than eight (8) of whom shall be members of the same political party and at least one of whom shall be a handicapped person. The Commission's powers and duties shall be as prescribed by Town Ordinance and the terms of office shall be consistent with this Charter.
The Mayor shall appoint a Permanent Pension Committee consisting of 7 electors of the town whose membership and duties shall be prescribed by Town Ordinance and whose terms of office shall be consistent with this Charter.
There shall be a Board for Admission of Electors, as provided by State Statutes, consisting of the Town Clerk and the Registrars of Voters. The duties of such board shall be as prescribed by State Statutes.
The mayor shall appoint a Commission on Veteran's Advocacy consisting of seven members not more than four of whom shall be from one political party. One member shall be nominated by the Wolcott Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1979, and one member shall be nominated by the Wolcott American Legion Post 165, and the Wolcott Assessor. The Commission's powers and duties shall be as prescribed by the Town Ordinance and terms shall be consistent with the Charter.