At each general municipal election, a Mayor shall be chosen
by the Electors of the City. The Mayor shall be the chief executive
officer of the City and, as such, the executive and administrative
powers of the City are vested in the Mayor[2]. The Mayor shall receive compensation as set by the Council
and must devote full time to the duties of the office.
[2]
NOTE: 2023 modification of current Article V, Part 2 - Mayor. 1-229, Derived from Sp. Laws 1913, No. 352, § 64. Historical Editor's Note: See § 1-216 for powers and duties of Selectmen. In lieu of the following: "All duties required by law of Selectmen of towns, except such as are imposed upon them by the constitution of the state, shall be performed by the Mayor except as otherwise herein provided.'
The Mayor shall have the authority to take such actions (1)
necessarily or fairly implied in or incident to the powers expressly
granted by Law, including, but not limited to, the General Statutes
and Special Acts; and, (2) essential to the declared objects and purposes
of the City, not simply convenient, but indispensable[1]. In addition to those powers and duties and as further
specified elsewhere in this Charter, the Mayor shall:
A.
Take care that the Laws, including the Ordinances, be faithfully
and vigilantly executed and enforced[2].
B.
(1) Preside at all meetings of the Council following notice of the time and place of holding of meetings and may attend the Council Committee meetings, but shall have no vote therein, except in the case of a tie as set forth in § 4-2A(1)[3]; (2) Recommend the adoption of such measures connected
with the peace, security, health, cleanliness, and general well-being
of the City, and the improvement of its government and finances as
the Mayor deems expedient, and, (3) Communicate to the Council at
the end of each fiscal year a statement of the condition of the City
in relation to its government, expenditures, finances, and improvements,
which statement must be entered upon the records of the City within
five Days after its reception, and published in such manner as the
Council shall order[4].
E.
Employ attorneys, other than the Corporation Counsel, in matters
affecting the interest of the City, and all services rendered to the
City by such attorneys shall be paid for in the same manner as other
claims against the City, in the event the Mayor deems it necessary,
subject to the consent of a Majority Vote of the Council[7].
[1]
NOTE: Among the duties and powers of the Mayor in the current charter that are repealed are the following: (1) the ability to exercise the powers of Sheriffs and to call out military forces of the state to enforce the laws of the City as set forth in current Article V, Part 2 — Mayor. 1-226 (Ninth sentence), derived from Sp. Laws 1913, No. 352, § 63. Historical Editor's Note: For authority of Mayor to borrow money see Ch. 9, Administration, and § 1-201; (2) power to issue warrants for the collection of taxes, etc... as set forth in current Article V, Part 2 - Mayor. 1-226 (Fifth sentences), Derived from Sp. Laws 1913, No. 352, § 63. Historical Editor's Note: For authority of Mayor to borrow money see Ch. 9, Administration, and § 1-201: (3) serve as Superintendent of Police Forces and conservator fo the peace of the City as set forth in current Article V, Part 2 - Mayor. 1-226 (Sixth and seventh sentences), Derived from Sp. Laws 1913, No. 352, § 63. Historical Editor's Note: For authority of Mayor to borrow money see Ch. 9, Administration, and § 1-201; (4) the ability to enter any house, building, place or enclosures for assorted reasons as set forth in current Article V, Part 2 - Mayor. 1-226 (Eighth sentence), Derived from Sp. Laws 1913, No. 352, § 63. Historical Editor's Note: For authority of Mayor to borrow money see Ch. 9, Administration, and § 1-201.
A.
The Mayor upon the commencement of the term of office shall, except
as otherwise provided in this Charter:
(1)
Appoint, subject to § 7-1B, all members of all vacancies on Boards and Commissions created pursuant to the General Statutes, this Charter or Ordinance.
(2)
Appoint, subject to § 8-2A(1) - (4), the Division Chiefs, Department Heads and Other Mayoral Executive-Level Appointees, except as otherwise provided in this Charter or collective bargaining agreement, and such other officers and employees of the City as this Charter or an Ordinance of the Council consistent therewith may provide.
B.
This provision shall not apply to Elected Officials who are Department
Heads[2]. Nothing in this section shall deprive the Council of
the power of confirming any appointments for offices when Confirmation
by the Common Council is required by the Charter or Ordinances[3].
[2]
NOTE: NEW (2023).
[3]
NOTE: 2023 recodification of current Article V, Part 2 - Mayor. 1-227 (Fifth sentence), Derived from Sp. Laws Sp. Laws 1947, No. 206; Charter Amendment 11-7-1972; Charter Amendment 8-29-1978. Historical Editor's Note: Approved by the electorate at the general election held 11-7-1978. The following language from current Article V, Part 2 - Mayor. 1-228, derived from Sp. Laws 1933, No. 255, has been repealed: "The Mayor of the City of Norwalk may, with the approval of any appointive or elective officer of said City, appoint a person to perform all the duties and exercise all the powers of such office during such time as such officer shall be incapacitated by illness or absence from said City. Such appointee shall furnish an adequate bond for the performance of such duties. The Mayor shall notify such appointee of his release from such appointment upon notice from such officer of his ability to resume his duties."
[1]
NOTE: 2023 recodification and modification of (1) current Article V, Part 1 - General. § 1-218. Derived from Sp. Laws 1913, No. 352, § 74. Historical Editor's Note: See § 1-227 for powers and duties of appointive officers, in lieu of the following: "All officers required by law to be appointed by towns and by Selectmen of towns, not herein otherwise provided for, shall, on and after the first (1st) Monday of October, 1913, be appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the Council;" and (2) current Article V, Part 2 - Mayor. 1-227 (First sentence), Derived from Sp. Laws Sp. Laws 1947, No. 206; Charter Amendment 11-7-1972; Charter Amendment 8-29-1978. Historical Editor's Note: Approved by the electorate at the general election held 11-7-1978, in lieu of the following: "The Mayor of the City of Norwalk to be elected at the city election to be held on the Tuesday after the first (1st) Monday in November 1979, and each Mayor elected
biennially thereafter, shall make all appointments to city offices
as provided by this Charter on the Day of his taking office as Mayor."
A.
Appropriations. The Mayor may appoint a Chief of Staff (or equivalent position) in accordance with § 8-2A(1), and such other clerical staff and assistants for which sufficient funds must be appropriated in the Operating Budget.
B.
Division Chiefs. The Mayor may appoint as employees of the City,
except as otherwise provided by this Charter, Division Chiefs as set
forth herein. The Division Chiefs must have professional qualifications
in their applicable field, including, but not limited to, economic
and community development, community and human services, public administration
and operations, infrastructure and public works, public safety or
public finance. The Division Chiefs are required to aid the Mayor
in the carrying out of the Mayor's duties as chief executive and administrative
officer of the City. The qualifications for the Division Chiefs must
be prepared in accordance with nationally accepted professional standards
and best practices in the applicable field and must be updated prior
to the appointment of a new Chief.
[1]
NOTE: NEW (2023).
A.
B.
Duties of the City Clerk[2]. The Clerk of the City shall also be Clerk of the Council,
and must keep and maintain records of all the votes and proceedings
of the City, and of the Council. Moreover, the Clerk is required to:
(1)
cause the Ordinances to be published as required by the General Statutes;
(2)
cause to be served by the City Sheriff or other proper officer all
Public Notices or orders of the Council and enter upon the records
the return of such service;
(3)
issue over the signature of the Clerk such licenses and permits as
may be granted by the Council or prescribed by this Charter and the
Ordinances, and keep a record of the licenses and permits;
(4)
collect the money due for such licenses or permits and pay the same
to the City, in accordance with the financial procedures of the City;
(5)
collect all such bills as the Council may order, and account for
the same to the Mayor and other Public Officials, as directed by the
Mayor;
(6)
perform all such duties as may be required by this Charter or by
any vote or Ordinance of the Council;
(7)
maintain a record of all amendments to this Charter and all Ordinances;
(8)
keep the Office of the Clerk open at such hours as directed by the
Mayor and/or the Council;
(9)
serve as Clerk of the Board of Estimate and Taxation; thereby responsible
for keeping true records of all the votes and proceedings of the Board,
which records must be, at all times, open to public inspection and
preserved in the records of the City[3]; and,
[3]
NOTE: Historical Editor's Note: See § 1-289, Mayor
as ex officio member of Board of Estimate and Taxation; Board in general.
(10)
serve as the Clerk of the Board of Assessment Appeals.
All records of the Clerk shall have the same validity as records
of Town Clerks and shall be treated in all courts as evidence of the
truth of the matters therein contained, and a duly certified copy
of any such records shall be received in all courts as evidence of
the same validity as the original record[4].
C.
Assignment of City Clerk Duties by Mayor[5]. In addition to the duties prescribed in the existing
provisions of the Charter, the City Clerk shall perform such duties
as are assigned by the Mayor. In the absence of the Mayor and President
of the Council, the City Clerk must attend all meetings of all Boards
and Commissions of which the Mayor is a member or an ex officio member,
but at such meetings the Mayor or any Public Official attending in
the absence of the Mayor shall have no vote.
D.
Appointment of Assistant City Clerk[6]. The Council may at any time appoint an Assistant Clerk
who shall provide administrative assistance to the Council under the
direction of the President, and shall, in the absence or in case of
the disability or death of the Clerk, perform all the duties of the
Clerk. All records and acts of the assistant shall have the same validity
as the records of the Clerk.
