(a)
All the inhabitants dwelling within the lawfully defined territorial
limits of the Town of Newtown shall continue to be a body politic
and corporate under the name of the "Town of Newtown", hereinafter
called "the Town". As such, it shall have perpetual succession and
may hold and exercise all powers and privileges heretofore exercised
by the Town and not inconsistent with the provisions
of this Charter and all powers and privileges conferred upon towns
under the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut.
(a)
All property interests, both real and personal, all actions, causes
of action, defenses thereto and rights of every description and all
liens possessed by the Town as of the effective date
of this Charter shall be continued in the Town. The Town shall continue to be liable for all debts and obligations
of every kind for which the Town is liable on that date.
Nothing herein shall be construed to affect the right of the Town to collect any assessment, charge, debt or lien. Any
rights or obligations of a Town Department that would
fail, lapse or fall into breach by reason of any change in the powers,
organizations or duties of Town officers, boards, commissions
or authorities resulting from this Charter shall be assumed by the
Board of Selectmen, unless otherwise provided by ordinance, resolution
or the terms of this Charter.
(a)
In addition to all powers granted to towns under the State of Connecticut
Constitution and the General Statutes, the Town shall possess all powers granted by this Charter and all powers
proper, incidental or convenient to their exercise. The Town shall also possess the powers incident to the management of its
property, government and affairs, including the capacity and power
to enter into contracts with the United States or any Federal Agency,
and the State of Connecticut or any political instrumentality thereof,
for any purposes not prohibited by law.
(a)
This Charter shall be the organic law of the Town in
the administration of its local affairs. Special acts and ordinances
inconsistent with this Charter and superseded by it shall have no
further force or effect after the effective date of this Charter.
Other special acts affecting the Town, and all other
ordinances and resolutions duly adopted and in force before the effective
date of the Charter, remain in force, but shall not apply whenever
they conflict with the provisions of this Charter.
The following provisions shall apply throughout this Charter
unless otherwise specified:
(a)
Definitions: The following terms (in bold text throughout the document)
shall have the meaning ascribed to them below.
(1)
Financial Impact Statement: The term "Financial
Impact Statement" shall describe a document that includes the analysis
of all costs and liabilities to be incurred by the Town as a result of the use of a Special Appropriation,
grant or gift of real or tangible personal property.
(2)
General Statutes: The term "General Statutes" shall
be used in this Charter when referring to the Connecticut General
Statutes, as amended.
(3)
Legislative Council District: The term "Legislative Council District" shall be used in this Charter as defined in Section 3-10.
(4)
Resident Elector: The term "Resident Elector" shall
describe a person who is registered to vote in the Town and whose principal residence is in the Town. A person
who has filed an application for the retention of electoral privileges
with the Registrar of Voters shall be considered a Resident
Elector for so long as the application for retention of elector
privileges is in effect.
(5)
Town: The term "Town" shall be used in this Charter
as defined in Subsection 1-01(a).
(6)
Town Body: The term "Town Body" shall include the
Legislative Council and each board, commission, and authority defined
herein and any other body or group which is designated a Town
Body by the Legislative Council.
(7)
Town Department: The term "Town Department" shall
include, for example, the offices of the Tax Collector, Town Clerk,
Assessor, Registrar of Voters, Public Works Department, Board of Education,
and any other Town Body to which funds are appropriated
in the Town Budget and any other body or group which
is designated a Town Department by the Legislative Council
on or before October 1st in the year prior to the adoption of the Town Budget. Notwithstanding the foregoing, The Board of Education
shall be exempt from the duties or functions required of Town Departments
under this Charter, only to the extent that such duties or functions
would violate specific provisions of the General Statutes applicable
to boards of education and the administration of such entities.
(8)
Town Election: The term "Town Election" shall be
used for elections held bi-annually on the Tuesday after the first
Monday of November in the odd-numbered years.
(9)
Budget related definitions are contained in Subsection 6-01(a).
(10)
Real property acquisition and disposition related definitions
are contained in Subsection 8-01(a).
(b)
Public Notice: In any instance in which public notice is required
the same shall be served by causing its publication in a newspaper
having a substantial circulation in the Town unless a
different method of notice is provided for in the General Statutes.
