(a)
All members and alternates of Town Bodies shall have
the powers and duties conferred and imposed on them by the General
Statutes, the provisions of this Charter, and the regulations
or by-laws of and for the body on which they serve. Members and alternates
of appointive Town Bodies shall also be subject to the
powers and duties prescribed by ordinance, if such ordinance exists.
(b)
The rules contained in the then current edition of Robert's
Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern in all cases to which they
are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with this Charter
and any special rules of order that may be adopted.
(c)
All elected and appointive Town Bodies may make rules
for the conduct of their meetings and the manner for accomplishing
their duties. Such rules shall be filed with the Town Clerk. A Special
Act, the Connecticut General Statutes, or the Charter, as applicable,
shall prevail in any conflict in rules created under this section.
(d)
The First Selectman shall be an ex officio member of all Town
Bodies, but without vote and not counted for the purpose of
having a quorum except as a member of the Board of Selectmen. The
First Selectman shall be given reasonable notice of all meetings of Town Bodies by their chairmen or secretaries, and may in writing
appoint another member of the Board of Selectmen to represent him
or her at any meeting of such Town Body.
(e)
All elective and appointive officers, before they enter on their
duties, shall take the oath or affirmation prescribed by Article XI,
Section 1 of the Constitution of the State of Connecticut, as follows:
"You do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that you will
support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution
of the State of Connecticut, as long as you continue to be a citizen
thereof, and that you will faithfully discharge, according to law,
the duties of the office of_____ to the best of your abilities. So
help you God." No other oath or affirmation shall be required.
(a)
Unless otherwise specified, only Resident Electors of
the Town shall be eligible for election to any Town office or appointment to any appointive board. Any person
ceasing to be a Resident Elector of the Town shall thereupon cease to hold elective or appointive office in the Town and the office shall be deemed vacant.
(b)
No person shall hold more than one elective office of the Town at the same time.
(c)
Any Resident Elector of the Town, regardless
of whether they have party affiliation, may run for public office.
Specifics regarding procedures for securing a position on the election
ballot are available by contacting the Elections Division of the Secretary
of the State's Office, the Town Clerk's Office, or the Registrar
of Voters' Office.
(d)
Specific rules regarding eligibility for certain offices or Town Body are contained in the following subsections discussing
such Town Body:
(1)
First Selectman: The First Selectman shall have no other full
time employment nor hold any paid civil office under the government
of the United States, the State of Connecticut, or any subdivision
thereof, except that of Notary Public and Justice of the Peace.
(2)
Board of Selectmen: No member of the Board of Selectmen, while
in office, shall hold or be appointed to any other office or employment
in the government of the Town.
(3)
Legislative Council: No member of the Legislative Council shall
hold or be appointed to any other Town office or Town Body. Except as provided for in Subsection 2-30(b), members
of the Legislative Council shall reside in the Legislative Council
District from which they were elected.
(4)
Police Commission: No member of the Board of Police Commissioners
shall be a member or officer of the Newtown Police Department, the
Chief of Police, or a member of any other Town Body.
(5)
Board of Fire Commissioners: Eligibility to serve on the Fire
Commission is described in Subsection 2-235(b).
(6)
Public Building and Site Commission: Members shall include those
who are qualified by training and experience on matters pertaining
to building design, construction or contractual instruments.
(a)
Except as specifically provided in this section, the maximum number
of members of a Town Body, whether elected or appointed,
who are members of the same political party shall be determined in
accordance with the provisions of Section 9-167a of the General
Statutes. In addition, the maximum number of alternate members
for any given board or commission shall also conform to the provisions
of 9-167a. To Wit:
|
Total Membership
|
Maximum for One Party
|
|---|---|
|
3
|
2
|
|
4
|
3
|
|
5
|
4
|
|
6
|
4
|
|
7
|
5
|
|
8
|
5
|
|
9
|
6
|
|
more than 9
|
2/3rds of total membership
|
(b)
Exceptions are as follows:
(1)
Legislative Council: The number of members of any one political
party who may serve on the Legislative Council shall not exceed 3
of the 4 members elected from each Legislative Council District.
(2)
Board of Education: The number of members of any one political
party who may serve on the Board of Education shall not exceed 4.
(3)
Police Commission: The number of members of any one political
party who may serve on the Police Commission shall not exceed 3.
(4)
Board of Managers of the Edmond Town Hall: At each regular Town Election, 2 members of the Board of Managers of the Edmond
Town Hall shall be elected, neither of whom may be members of the
same political party.
(5)
Board of Fire Commissioners: Provided members are appointed
as set forth in this Charter, the Board of Fire Commissioners shall
be exempt from the provisions for minority representation.
(6)
Board of Ethics: At no time shall more than 3 regular members
and one alternate member of the Board of Ethics be of the same political
party.
(7)
Public Building and Site Commission: The Public Building and
Site Commission shall have no more than 4 members and one alternate
member from one political party.
(8)
Justices of the Peace: The political affiliation of Justices
of the Peace shall be determined as provided in the General
Statutes [see Section 9-183a, et seq.].
(c)
As provided in Section 9-167a of the General Statutes, minority representation limitations in Subsection 2-10(a) shall
not apply to regional bodies.
(a)
The term lengths and term limits, if any, for every elected official,
elected or appointed member of Town Bodies are set forth
in sections establishing said office or Town Body.
(b)
The terms of office of all elected officials shall commence on the
December 1st following their election unless otherwise provided by
a specific provision of this Charter or the General Statutes. Each elected official shall hold office until a successor is elected
and has qualified.
(c)
The terms of office of members of all appointive Town Bodies shall commence on January 7th except for the Trustees of the Cyrenius
H. Booth Library whose terms shall commence on July 1st, or as otherwise
required by law.
(d)
The terms of appointment to any appointive Town Body shall not exceed 4 years.
(e)
The terms of members seated on appointive Town Bodies shall be established to expire, as nearly as possible, at regularly
staggered annual intervals, unless otherwise provided by this Charter
or by the General Statutes.
(a)
The First Selectman shall be the chairman and shall preside over
meetings of the Board of Selectmen. The First Selectman shall not
be an officer on any other Town Body.
(b)
All other Town Bodies shall elect from their number
a chairman during the first meeting.
(c)
The members of the Legislative Council shall also elect from their
number a vice chairman during the first meeting.
(d)
The Board of Education may elect a vice chairman and shall elect
a secretary from its members.
(e)
All other Town Bodies may elect a vice chairman and
a secretary.
(a)
It shall be the duty of every member present at any Town Body meeting to vote affirmatively or negatively on each question raised,
excepting that a member present at any Town Body meeting who has missed
a previous meeting by not attending, for any reason, shall have the
choice to abstain from voting on the minutes of such previous meeting.
Should a member have a conflict of interest, said member shall refrain
from discussion and voting. The reason for the conflict of interest
need not be stated nor made part of the record.
(a)
A vacancy shall be created in the event that any one of the following
occur: the death of a member; the resignation submitted by a member
and filed with the Town Clerk, who shall immediately notify the Chair
of the affected Town Body; a member ceases to meet the eligibility requirements as described in Section 2-05; or, for appointive boards, a member is removed for cause. The vacancy shall take effect on the date of such event.
(b)
Should a member of the Legislative Council move from one Legislative
Council District to another, such a move shall not constitute
the creation of a vacancy provided that the member otherwise remains
eligible for Town office. Should the member's seat
become vacated subsequent to such move, the vacancy shall be filled
by a member appointed from the district from which the member was
originally elected.
(c)
If a person vacating an elective Town Body shall have
been elected as a member of a political party, the vacancy shall be
filled by a member of the same political party.
(d)
If a person vacating an appointive Town Body was appointed
as a member of a political party, the vacancy shall be filled by a
member of the same political party or by an unaffiliated Resident
Elector. If the newly appointed member is an unaffiliated elector
and must vacate his appointment, the person appointed to fill such
a vacancy must be either an unaffiliated elector or a member of the
same political party as the person initially appointed.
(a)
Legislative Council: A vacancy or vacancies on the Legislative Council
shall be filled for the remainder of the term from among eligible Resident Electors in the Legislative Council District of the former member as follows:
(1)
Within 30 days of vacancy, by majority vote of the Legislative
Council members of the same political party of the former member;
(2)
After 30 days, by majority vote of the remaining members of
the Legislative Council regardless of party affiliation.
(3)
Should all seats on the Council be simultaneously vacant, then
a special election shall be called to fill all seats.
(b)
Board of Selectmen: A vacancy or vacancies on the Board of Selectmen
shall be filled in the manner prescribed by Section 9-222 of the General Statutes.
(c)
Board of Education: If a vacancy occurs in the office of any member
of the local Board of Education, then the successor shall be determined
by:
(1)
A majority vote of the remaining members of the same political
party of the former member provided said vote occurs within 45 days
of vacancy;
(2)
A majority vote of the remaining members regardless of party
affiliation after 45 days.
(3)
Should the vacancy still not be filled after 90 days, then the
current Chair of the Board of Education shall appoint the successor.
(4)
Should all seats on the Board of Education become simultaneously
vacant, then a special election shall be called to fill all seats.
(5)
Any successor(s) so appointed shall serve until the next regular
town election for Board of Education positions, at which election
a successor shall be elected for the unexpired portion of the term,
the official ballot specifying the vacancy to be filled.
(d)
For all other elected Town Bodies, a vacancy or vacancies
shall be filled as follows:
(1)
Within 30 days of vacancy, by a majority vote of the remaining
members of the Town Body;
(2)
From 31 to 60 days of vacancy, by appointment of the First Selectman
with the approval of the Board of Selectmen.
(3)
Should the number of vacancies leave less than a majority of
the membership, the First Selectman with the approval of the Board
of Selectmen, within 30 days, shall fill all existing vacancies.
(a)
Vacancies in offices originally appointed by the First Selectman
shall be filled as follows:
(b)
All vacancies in the Cyrenius H. Booth Library Board of Trustees
other than those seats originally appointed by the First Selectman
shall be filled in accordance with the by-laws of the Library Board
of Trustees.
(c)
Vacancies in the Board of Fire Commissioners shall be filled in accordance
with Subsection 2-235(b) of this Charter.
(a)
In the absence of one or more regular members and alternate members
exist; present regular members of the Town Body shall
designate alternate(s) to act in the absent members' place. Alternates
shall be chosen in rotation so that they shall act as nearly equal
a number of times as possible.
(a)
A member of an appointive board or the Building Inspector, Town Assessor
or Tax Collector may be removed for cause by the First Selectman with
the approval of the Board of Selectmen.
(b)
The First Selectman, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen,
shall adopt a personnel policy establishing procedures, consistent
with due process, for removal for cause.
(c)
Within 30 days from such removal, any person so removed may, in writing,
request a hearing before the Legislative Council. Such hearing shall
be held within 15 days from the date such request is made and such
person may appear at the hearing with counsel. After such hearing,
the decision of the Board of Selectmen may be reversed, modified or
upheld by said Legislative Council, provided said Legislative Council
acts no later than 30 days after the conclusion of such hearing.
(a)
The Town Clerk shall receive a salary in lieu of all fees and other
compensation. The Town Clerk's salary shall be set from time
to time by the Legislative Council.
(b)
The Registrars of Voters shall receive a salary as set from time
to time by the Board of Selectmen.
(c)
The salary for the First Selectman's term shall be set by the
Legislative Council during the budget making process of each odd numbered
year. The salary may be fixed at different rates for each year of
the term. The salary shall not be changed during the term of office.
(d)
The members of elected and appointed boards, commissions, and authorities,
except the First Selectman, shall serve without compensation. Necessary
expenses incurred in the performance of their duties may be paid from
an appropriation authorized for the purpose.
(a)
All Town Bodies shall have an administrative clerk.
Such clerks, as authorized by this Charter, shall keep minutes of
meetings, record all motions, votes and actions of their assigned Town Body, prepare the agenda and notices of all regular and
special meetings or cancellation of said body at the direction of
its chairman and perform such other duties as such chairman, from
time to time, shall direct.
There shall be the following elected boards, commissions, and
officers.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: All of the legislative powers
of the Town conferred by the General Statutes on Legislative Bodies shall vest in the Legislative Council with
the exception of those items specifically enumerated to other Town Bodies. The Council determines the annual Town
Budget and considers Special and Emergency
Appropriations as set forth in CHAPTER 6. The Legislative Council
shall have the power to enact, amend or repeal ordinances as set forth
in CHAPTER 5.
(c)
The Legislative Council, from time to time, may adopt rules of procedure
to govern its functions not inconsistent with the requirements of
this Charter, provided such rules are adopted by at least eight (8)
affirmative votes.
(d)
Meetings - The Legislative Council shall adhere to the following:
(1)
The first meeting of the newly elected Legislative Council,
chaired by the Town Clerk, shall be held within 6 days after the members
take office.
(2)
Regular meetings shall be held twice a month, except when there
is no business to conduct. The chairman shall notify the Town Clerk
and the membership of the cancellation. The chairman may call special
meetings as deemed necessary.
(3)
Notice shall be given to all members of the Legislative Council
of the time and place at which all regular and special meetings are
to be held. Each notice shall include the meeting agenda and shall
be delivered at least 3 days before the meeting and filed with the
Town Clerk and made available for public inspection.
(4)
The Legislative Council may hold an emergency meeting at the
immediate call of the chairman. The meeting shall be subject to ratification
of the chairman's decision that an emergency existed by at least
eight (8) affirmative votes. The nature of the emergency shall be
set forth fully in the minutes of the meeting.
(5)
Seven members of the Legislative Council shall constitute a
quorum at all meetings for the transaction of business.
(6)
The agenda of each regular or special meeting of the Legislative
Council shall be prepared by the chairman. The agenda shall also include
any matter or item, including without limitation any action or ordinance,
set forth in a written request filed with the chairman not less than
7 days prior to such meeting by:
(i)
Any member of the Legislative Council;
(ii)
The First Selectman; or
(iii)
Not less than 80 Resident Electors of the Town. Any such request filed by 80 Resident
Electors shall contain the resolution or ordinance on which
action is sought. Prior to appearing on an agenda, the resolution
or ordinance shall be submitted to the Town Attorney, by the chairman
of the Legislative Council, for his opinion as to the power of the
Legislative Council to act thereon. Such opinion or approval shall
not be unreasonably delayed.
(7)
Any Resident Elector of the Town may
speak during a portion of each regular or special meeting on any matter
on the Agenda of that meeting or any other item, subject to such conditions,
rules and regulations as may be established from time to time by the
Legislative Council, including the right to limit public participation
in the working sessions on the budget.
(8)
Subject to appropriate rules of order adopted by the Legislative
Council and Connecticut law on freedom of information, matters not
on the agenda may be discussed. No action shall be taken by the Legislative
Council on any matter unless it appears on the agenda sent to Legislative
Council members with the notice of the meeting unless emergency action
is required at any regular or special meeting at which it is found
by at least eight (8) affirmative votes that an emergency exists or
at an emergency meeting called as set forth in Subsection 2-105(d)(4).
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: The First Selectman shall be
the Chief Executive and Administrative Officer of the Town and shall have the powers and duties of First Selectmen prescribed
by this Charter and the General Statutes.
(b)
The First Selectman shall be responsible to the Board of Selectmen
for the administration of departments under the direct supervision
of the Board and shall execute or cause to be executed regulations
or resolutions voted by the Board of Selectmen and Town ordinances voted by the Legislative Council.
(c)
The First Selectman may declare, by resolution, a state of emergency,
should he or she find that a state of emergency exists within the Town, requiring immediate action to protect the health, safety
or general welfare of the citizens. The resolution shall include the
exact nature of the emergency and be simultaneously published by the
most effective means available. The declaration shall be effective
for a period of time not to exceed 5 calendar days. The emergency
declaration may be extended by an affirmation by the Legislative Council
that a state of emergency still exists. Any actions necessary to deal
with such emergency proposed during an extension shall be approved
by the Legislative Council. The First Selectman shall take such actions
as are in the best interest of the Town.
(d)
At the first meeting following the Town Election, the
Board of Selectmen shall choose a member of the Board who shall serve
as Acting First Selectman during the absence, incapacity or disability
of the First Selectman. Such person shall perform all duties during
such time as the Board may designate by resolution or regulation.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: The Board of Selectmen shall
supervise the administration of the affairs of the Town, except those matters which by the General Statutes or this Charter are exclusively committed to the Board of Education
or other Town Bodies. The Board of Selectmen shall also
be responsible for coordinating the activities of all the departments
of the Town and for reviewing the present and future
needs of the Town.
(c)
The Board of Selectmen may exercise any of the powers conferred on
towns by the General Statutes to the extent that the
Legislative Council has not already acted by ordinance or resolution
on such subjects and to the extent that such powers have not otherwise
been granted or limited by this Charter to other Town Bodies or officers.
(d)
Except for the powers granted to the Board of Education by the General Statutes, the Board of Selectmen shall have sole power,
subject to the provisions of this Charter and the General Statutes to:
(1)
Incur indebtedness in the name of the Town and
to provide for the due execution of evidences of indebtedness issued
by the Town, subject to the provisions of Section 7-10
of this Charter,
(2)
Provide for the due execution of contracts for the Town, subject to the provisions of Subsection 7-15(e) of this Charter,
(3)
Institute, prosecute or compromise any legal action or proceeding
by or against the Town, subject to the approval of the
Legislative Council and, when relevant, the affected department or Town Body,
(4)
Defend the Town by legal action or proceeding,
(5)
Apply for any financial assistance by the State of Connecticut
and the United States Government including grants to fund any appropriation,
subject to the provisions of Section 6-40 of this Charter,
(6)
Take, purchase, lease, sell, or convey tangible personal property
of or for the Town. Real Property Acquisition and Disposition is addressed in CHAPTER 8,
(7)
Accept public highways, to approve the layout of public highways
and related drainage, slope or other easements, to approve the Acquisition of real property or interests in real property
for the purpose of widening or realignment of existing public highways
and to grant utility easements across town-owned property for the
good of the Town,
(8)
Discontinue any town-owned public highway,
(9)
Require such reports from any Town Body as may
be useful in the performance of its duties,
(10)
Submit annually to the Board of Finance a proposed budget for
the next fiscal year subject to the provisions of Subsection 6-05(b)
of this Charter.
(e)
The First Selectman with the approval of the Board of Selectmen may,
by resolution, establish such advisory or study committees as they
find desirable in the discharge of their duties.
(f)
The Board of Selectmen shall have regular meetings and provide a
procedure for calling special meetings.
(g)
A majority of the Board of Selectmen shall constitute a quorum for
the transaction of any business.
(h)
The Board of Selectmen may call joint meetings with other Town
Bodies, by resolution or regulation, as may be useful in the
performance of its duties subject to the provisions the General
Statutes.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: The Board of Education shall
provide and maintain good public elementary and secondary schools
and shall provide such educational activities as in its judgment will
best serve the interests of the Town. The Board of Education
shall perform all acts required of them by this Charter or as necessary
to carry into effect the powers and duties imposed upon them by law.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: The Board of Finance recommends a budget proposal and submits it to the Legislative Council for final action as set forth in Section 6-15. In addition, the Board advises the Board of Selectmen and Board of Education during the budget process and all Town Bodies on preferred financial practices
and obligations. The Board of Finance also reviews and assesses financial
operations including transfers, regular and Special Appropriations.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: The Planning and Zoning Commission
is responsible to promote the orderly and coordinated development
of the Town. The Commission controls and directs the
use and development of property in the Town. The Planning
and Zoning Commission, subject to the provisions of this Charter,
shall have all of the powers and duties conferred and imposed by the General Statutes upon both Planning and Zoning Commissions.
It acts as the Planning Commission for the Borough of Newtown and
shall, to the extent that it is so empowered by ordinance of the Borough
of Newtown, act as Zoning Commission for the Borough of Newtown.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: The Town Clerk, who shall also
be the Registrar of Vital Statistics, is responsible for administrative
work for the Town including the maintenance and safe-keeping
of a variety of official municipal documents; issuance of various
licenses and permits; and the recording of various documents and vital
statistics.
(c)
The Town Clerk shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of
a Town Clerk as provided by the General Statutes except
as hereinafter provided and shall perform such other duties as required
by this Charter.
(1)
The receipts to be paid to the Town Clerk shall be collected
in accordance with the provisions of the General Statutes or this Charter or ordinances of this Town and shall
be deposited with the Finance Director of the Town.
(2)
The Town Clerk shall also keep a record of receipts, which shall
show the amounts thereof and for what received.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: The Registrars of Voters are
responsible for voter registration and the administration of all elections.
They also assist candidates, the public, and the parties in the preparation
of specialized voter lists and individual requests for voter information.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: The Board of Assessment Appeals
shall hear and decide appeals from property owners regarding the assessment
of their property as and when provided by the General Statutes.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: The Board of Managers of the
Edmond Town Hall shall have the exclusive care and maintenance of
Edmond Town Hall and all grounds and buildings appurtenant thereto
and shall have the status, powers and duties set forth in Special
Act No. 98 of the 1931 session of the General Assembly as amended
by Special Act No. 517 of the 1953 session of the General Assembly,
which acts shall remain in full force and effect, except to the extent
superseded or revised by this Charter.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: The Zoning Board of Appeals
has powers as provided in Section 8-6 of the General Statutes, including but not limited to granting variances of zoning regulations
and hearing appeals.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: The Board of Police Commissioners
shall maintain a Police Department in the Town and shall
appoint a Chief of Police. In addition, the Board of Police Commissioners
serves as the traffic authority of the Town and may act
as a Civilian Police Review Board, with the authority to issue subpoenas
if so enacted by ordinance.
(c)
The Board of Police Commissioners shall, subject to budgetary limitations,
have all of the powers now or hereafter granted to Boards of Police
Commissioners by the General Statutes and, in addition
to and not in limitation thereof, shall have the power to:
(1)
Make all the regulations necessary to organize and maintain
the Police Department including, without limitation, the establishment
of ranks within said Department and the duties and responsibilities
of each such rank.
(2)
Appoint and promote members and officers of the Police Department
in accordance with said regulations. Such members and officers shall
continue to hold office during good behavior.
(3)
Suspend and remove members and officers of the Police Department
for cause in accordance with said regulations. A violation of the
regulations adopted by the Board of Police Commissioners shall be
sufficient cause for removal.
(d)
The Chief of the Police Department shall not be dismissed unless
written notice of the specific grounds for such dismissal is given,
as well as an opportunity to present a defense, personally and by
counsel, at a public hearing before the Board of Police Commissioners.
Such public hearing shall be commenced not less than 5 nor more than
10 days after such notice. Any person so dismissed may appeal in the
manner described by Section 7-278 of the General Statutes.
(e)
The members and officers of the Police Department shall have the
authority with respect to the service of criminal process and the
enforcement of the criminal laws as vested by the General Statutes in officers and members of an organized police department or force.
(a)
Board and commission members and authority delegates shall be appointed
by the First Selectman with the approval of the Board of Selectmen
unless hereinafter specified. All appointments to fill unexpired terms
shall be for the duration of said unexpired term only.
(1)
A First Selectman whose position as First Selectman will end
as a result of not being re-elected to the office shall not make appointments
from the date of the Town Election to the end of his/her
term. The period from the Town Election to the beginning
of the next term shall not be counted in the 45 days referred to in
Subsection 2-32(a).
(b)
Appointive boards, other than those required by this of this Charter,
may be created, abolished and consolidated; their powers and duties
established, altered and repealed; and the number and terms of office
of their members established and changed by ordinance.
(c)
Appointive boards required by this Charter or hereafter created by
ordinance other than the Board of Fire Commissioners and the Board
of Ethics may, in their discretion, appoint associate members, with
voice but without vote, for terms no longer than the terms of members
of the appointing board.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: There shall be a Commission
on Aging to advocate for seniors and identify the needs of and coordinate
services and programs that support the well-being of Newtown senior
residents and act as their agent for other Federal, State or Town boards, commissions, authorities or agencies or local
private groups to carry out programs for senior residents.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: There shall be a Conservation
Commission, as established by ordinance, for the development and conservation
of natural resources within the territorial limits of the Town. The Commission shall advise on the appropriate use and management
of the natural resources for the Town.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: The Newtown Cultural Arts Commission
shall exist to stimulate, facilitate, coordinate and cooperate with
existing organizations for the development of the arts. It shall serve
as an information center and focal point in the community for activities
related to the arts.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: There shall be an Economic Development
Commission which will seek to implement orderly and planned economic
development while always keeping in mind the character of the Town.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: Board of Ethics shall administer
the Code of Ethics, receive and hear complaints of violations of The
Code of Ethics and respond to requests from public officials seeking
advice on the conformity of actions with the Code of Ethics as set
forth in CHAPTER 9.
(b)
Membership and Terms:
(1)
The Board of Ethics shall be composed of six regular members
and two alternate members.
(2)
The term of office shall be four years.
(3)
Members shall serve no more than two consecutive terms. In no
event may any member serve said Board more than eight years in succession.
Any member having served said Board for eight years in succession
shall be ineligible for reappointment for two years after last serving
on said Board.
(4)
Each member may serve until his/her successor has been appointed.
(c)
A quorum shall consist of four members.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: Board of Fire Commissioners
shall operate, supervise and manage the Newtown Fire Department. The
Newtown Fire Department consists of all the volunteer fire companies
located within the Town and under the supervision and
management of a Board of Fire Commissioners.
(b)
Membership and Terms:
(1)
There shall be a Fire Department consisting of all the volunteer
fire companies located within the Town, under the operation,
supervision and management of a Board of Fire Commissioners. Said
Board shall be composed of 7 members unless increased in accordance
with Subsection 2-235(b)(1)(iii). Members shall be chosen in the following
manner:
(i)
Each volunteer fire company, in accordance with its by-laws
and regulations, shall appoint one member of said Board.
(ii)
The full membership of the Board shall meet and
appoint civilian commissioners as may be necessary to constitute the
full membership. Appointed civilian members shall not be members of
any Town fire company.
(iii)
Each new volunteer fire company admitted to the
Fire Department shall be entitled to appoint one additional new member
of said Board and said Board shall also appoint one additional new
civilian member in the manner prescribed in Subsections 2-235(b)(1)(i)
and (ii).
(iv)
Should a volunteer fire company fail to appoint
a member of said Board, the commissioners shall within 30 days appoint
a civilian member to fill the vacancy who shall not be a member of
any fire company.
(2)
The term of office shall be for three years.
(c)
The Board of Fire Commissioners shall be responsible for the financial
management of the Fire Department and for the supervision and care
of Town apparatus and equipment used by the Fire Department.
It may set specifications which shall be followed in the purchase
of apparatus, equipment and supplies by the Town for
the Fire Department.
(d)
The organization, government, membership and management of the Fire
Department shall be in accordance with the by-laws and regulations
of the departments in effect on the effective date of this Charter.
Such by-laws and regulations may be amended by the Board of Fire Commissioners.
Amendments to the by-laws, however, shall become effective only on
approval by a majority of the volunteer fire companies which are members
of the Fire Department.
(e)
The Board of Fire Commissioners shall appoint a fire marshal and
may appoint deputy fire marshals and fire policemen, who shall have
the powers and duties prescribed for their offices by the General
Statutes or by ordinance.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: There shall be an Inland Wetlands
Commission which shall act as the Town's Aquifer
Protection Agency; establish, amend and administer the Inland Wetlands
and Watercourses Regulations; and administer the Forest Practices
Regulations of the Town.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: The powers and responsibilities
of the Justices of the Peace include but are not limited to general
oath giving powers, taking of acknowledgments, joining persons in
marriage, and taking depositions.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: The Parks and Recreations Commission
shall be charged with the care, management and supervision of all
public parks and other areas set aside by the Town for
recreational purposes or donated to the Town for such
use. It shall undertake and develop such recreational program or programs
as the needs of the Town require, provided there is an
appropriation or private donations have been received for this purpose.
(c)
The Parks and Recreation Commission is empowered to appoint ad hoc
committees to assist with special projects.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: There shall be a Pension Committee,
as established by ordinance, which shall perform the duties set forth
in the Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) Trust Agreement, as amended
from time to time, relating to the management of the assets held in
the OPEB Trust. The Commission shall have other powers and duties
consistent with the General Statutes and as prescribed
by ordinance.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: The Public Building and Site
Commission shall have control of supervision and construction of building
projects including the improvement of lands, major new construction,
alterations or extensions, furnishing or equipping of a building to
be used for public purposes. The Public Building and Site Commission
may decline the supervision of a project when it determines that the
public interest would be better served by assigning supervision to
one or more qualified entities.
(c)
The Public Building and Site Commission is empowered to appoint ad
hoc committees to assist with special projects.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: The Self-Funded Health Insurance
Fund Commission shall be the stewards of the Self-Funded Health Insurance
Fund.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: The Sustainable Energy Commission
shall identify, implement, and support renewable energy use, energy
efficiency, and energy conservation programs in which the Town's residents, businesses, organizations, and Town agencies
can participate and that may result in cost savings or a reduction
in environmental impact to the Town or school district.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: The Cyrenius H. Booth Library
shall be operated by the Board of Trustees and the Trustees shall
have the status, powers and duties set forth in Special Act No. 108
of the 1931 session of the General Assembly as amended by Special
Act No. 110 of the 1959 session of the General Assembly, which acts
shall remain in full force and effect, except to the extent superseded
or revised by this Charter.
(b)
Membership and Terms:
(1)
The Board of Trustees shall consist of 16 members of which eight
shall be appointed by the First Selectman with the approval of the
Board of Selectmen. The remainder shall be elected by the vote of
the remaining Trustees present and voting at a meeting warned for
the purpose.
(2)
The term of office shall be four years.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: The Water and Sewer Authority
shall plan and direct the development, acquisition, financing, construction,
operation and maintenance of such water supply, water distribution
systems, and sewerage systems as may be required to properly serve
the needs of the Town.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: The Town shall
participate in the Lake Lillinonah Authority to exercise all powers
relating to improving water quality, the enforcement of boating laws
on said lake, and such other powers as from time to time may be granted
to the Authority by the legislative bodies of all member towns and
Section 7-151a of the General Statutes.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: The Town shall
participate in the Lake Zoar Authority to exercise all powers relating
to improving water quality, the enforcement of boating laws on said
lake, and such other powers as from time to time may be granted to
the Authority by the legislative bodies of all member towns and Section
7-151a of the General Statutes.
(a)
Summary of General Responsibilities: The Newtown Health District
Health Board shall preserve and improve the status of public health
by (1) upholding and enforcing the Public Health Code of the State
of Connecticut and such ordinances and regulations as may be adopted
by the District Board of Health and (2) working with other providers
of health services in the district to better coordinate existing programs
and to plan and implement new health programs.
(b)
Membership and Terms:
(1)
Each municipality and/or Borough which has voted to become part
of the District shall, by its Board of Selectmen, appoint a representative(s),
based on population, to serve on the District Board of Health and
may appoint an alternate to serve in the absence of said representative(s).
(2)
The term of office shall be three years.
