A. 
There shall be the following regular town boards and commissions, whose members shall be appointed by the Board of Selectmen: Parks and Recreation Commission; Public Utilities Commission; Library Board; Commission on Aging; Housing Authority; Economic Development Commission; Insurance and Pension Plan Commission; Youth Commission; Public Site and Building; Ethics Commission; and other boards and commissions that the Board of Selectmen may from time to time create, in accordance with the provisions of this Charter. The Board of Selectmen may, by ordinance, create, abolish or consolidate such other appointed boards and commissions and may likewise alter their powers and duties and change the number and terms of their members.
[Amended 11-7-1978; 11-6-1984; 11-7-1989; 11-4-2003; 11-6-2007; 11-4-2025]
B. 
All members of such appointed boards and commissions shall serve without compensation, except for reimbursement of necessary expenses, as authorized by the Board of Selectmen, or as otherwise provided by law, and until their successors have been appointed and qualified.
[Amended 11-4-2025]
C. 
All members of appointed boards and commissions shall be resident electors of the town and any person ceasing to be a resident and elector of said town shall thereupon cease to hold the appointed position on the respective board or commission.
[Amended 11-4-2025]
D. 
Such boards and commissions shall, except as otherwise provided in this Charter, have the powers and duties as are conferred or imposed by the Connecticut General Statutes upon their respective officers.
[Amended 11-7-1978; 11-6-1984; 11-4-2003]
A. 
The terms of office on all appointed boards and commissions shall commence on the first Monday of January, unless otherwise required by law or provided by this Charter. The length of terms shall be as hereinafter specified.
B. 
Any vacancy on any appointed board or commission, from whatever cause arising, shall be filled by appointment by the Board of Selectmen for the unexpired portion of the term vacated, in accordance with the procedure established in Section C3-3 of this Charter. If such vacancy has not been filled by the Board of Selectmen within sixty (60) days, either the Board of Selectmen or the remaining members of such board or commission shall fill such vacancy. If the remaining members of such board or commission fill said vacancy, they shall do so by recommending said candidate to the Board of Selectmen for the Board of Selectmen’s official appointment. Any such vacancy shall be filled by the appointment of a member of the same political party as the person vacating the office in the event that said person was affiliated with a political party.
[Amended 11-6-2007; 11-4-2025]
[Amended 11-4-2025]
Minority representation on any appointed board or commission shall be as follows:
Total Membership
Maximum From One Party
3
2
4
3
5
3
6
4
7
4
8
5
9
5
More than 9
2/3 of total membership
[Amended 11-6-1984]
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint, by affirmative vote of not fewer than two (2) members of said Board, members of such regular town boards and commissions as are listed in § C7-1 of this Charter by resolution adopted at a meeting of said Board.
[Added 11-4-2025]
A. 
Any member of an appointed Board or Commission desiring to resign from their office shall submit their written resignation to the Town Clerk. A copy of the written notice of resignation shall also be given by the appointed member to the Chairman of the Board or Commission in addition to the Town Clerk, which Chairman shall also notify the Town Clerk of such resignation forthwith. Upon receipt of a notice of resignation, the Town Clerk shall immediately notify the Board of Selectmen of such resignation by forwarding a true copy of the written notice of resignation to the Board of Selectmen. Any such resignation shall become effective, and the appointed Board or Commission member shall be vacant upon the date specified therein or, if no date is specified, upon the date it is received by the Town Clerk. If such vacancy has not been filled by the Board of Selectmen within said sixty (60) days, and the vacancy is of a member of a board or commission, the Board of Selectmen or the remaining members of such board or commission shall fill such vacancy. If the remaining members of such board or commission fill said vacancy, they shall do so by recommending said candidate to the Board of Selectmen for the Board of Selectmen’s official appointment.
B. 
Any member of an appointed Board or Commission may be removed from their position by the Board of Selectmen upon a finding of cause for their removal following a duly noticed public hearing before the Selectmen. The person affected by the potential removal shall be given notice of the public hearing and an opportunity to be heard. Notice shall be mailed to the last known address of the affected individual. Willful neglect of duty, the inability to serve, no longer qualified a resident elector, conviction of a felony and/or abandonment of office may constitute cause for removal. Additionally, the failure of the appointed member to attend three (3) consecutive scheduled regular meetings or one-half (1/2) of the board’s yearly meetings, in the aggregate, without having given the Chairman of such board notice with justifiable reasons for such absences, may be deemed a cause for removal as well.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § C7-5, Jury Committee, was repealed 11-4-2003.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § C7-6, Police Commission, as amended 11-6-1984 and 11-7-1989, was repealed effective the first Monday of December 1991 pursuant to the amendment adopted 11-7-1989.
[Amended 11-7-1978; 11-6-1984; 11-4-2025]
A. 
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint, in accordance with the provisions of this Charter, a Parks and Recreation Commission consisting of seven (7) regular members, each of whom shall serve a term of four (4) years, and said terms shall overlap.
B. 
Said Commission shall have the powers and duties as are now or may hereafter be conferred or imposed upon said Commission by the Connecticut General Statutes, Special Acts or local ordinances.
[Added 11-6-2007]
A. 
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint, in accordance with the provisions of this Charter, an Ethics Commission consisting of five (5) members each of whom shall serve a term of three (3) years, and said terms shall overlap.
B. 
No member of said Commission shall hold or campaign for any public office, have held public office during the twelve (12) months immediately prior to appointment, or hold office in any political party or political committee or organization or association organized primarily for the purpose of influencing legislation or decisions of public agencies.
C. 
Said Commission shall be responsible for administering the Ethics Code of the Town of Bethel established pursuant to C9-2 of the Charter and Chapter 8 of the Town Code.
D. 
Said Commission shall periodically review the Ethics Code of the Town of Bethel and shall recommend any appropriate revisions of said Ethics Code to the Board of Selectmen for their consideration.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § C7-8, Conservation Commission, as amended 11-7-1978 and 11-7-1989, was repealed effective the first Monday of December 1991 pursuant to the amendment adopted 11-7-1989.
[Added 11-6-2007]
A. 
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint, in accordance with the provisions of this Charter, a Youth Commission consisting of five (5) members each of whom shall serve a term of two (2) years, and said terms shall overlap. The Board of Selectmen shall appoint two (2) alternate members of said Commission each of whom shall serve a two (2) year term. In addition, the Board of Selectmen shall appoint one (1) ex officio member who shall be a Bethel resident who is a student between the age of fifteen (15) and eighteen (18) years old at the time of appointment.
B. 
Said Commission shall undertake educational and other activities to implement a youth program for the Town; shall study the needs of young persons with regard to employment, health, recreation and welfare; shall analyze public and private services available to Bethel youth; shall encourage development and coordination of public and nonprofit agencies and organizations that serve the youth of Bethel and shall advise the First Selectman in appointment of a Director to carry out a youth program on behalf of the Town.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § C7-9, Conservation Commission alternates, added 11-7-1978, as amended 11-6-1984 and 11-7-1989, was repealed effective the first Monday of December 1991 pursuant to the amendment adopted 11-7-1989.
[Added 11-6-2007]
A. 
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint, in accordance with the provisions of this Charter, a Public Site and Building Commission consisting of seven (7) members each of whom shall serve a term of four (4) years, and said terms shall overlap. The Board of Selectmen may appoint up to two (2) Temporary Members to represent the interests of a user of a specific project of said Commission. Such Temporary Members shall serve until the completion of the project or termination by the Board of Selectmen. Such Temporary members shall participate and vote in meetings of said Commission only on matters related to the specific project for which they were appointed.
B. 
Upon assignment of projects by the Board of Selectmen, said Commission shall aid and advise the Board of Selectmen in studying the current public building needs and planning for the future space and public building needs of the Town including those of the educational facility; shall study the current public building locations and potential public sites; shall advise in the design, bidding and construction of public buildings and carry out such duties specified in the Code of the Town of Bethel.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § C7-10, Building Code Board of Appeals, as amended 11-7-1978, was repealed 11-4-2003.
[Amended 11-7-1978; 11-4-2003]
A. 
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint, in accordance with the provisions of this Charter, a Public Utilities Commission consisting of seven (7) members, three (3) of which shall be from the Board of Selectmen, including the First Selectman. The Commission members shall serve a two-year term. The terms of the Selectmen members shall run from the time that they take office.
[Amended 11-4-2025]
B. 
Said Commission shall have all the powers and duties, not inconsistent with this Charter, as are now or may hereafter be conferred or imposed upon such Commission by the Connecticut General Statutes, Special Acts or local ordinances; the duties and powers previously exercised and discharged by the Sewer Authority and Water Commission of the Town of Bethel, such transfer of such powers and duties having been made in accordance with § C11-1 of this Charter; and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Selectmen.
[Added 11-7-1978]
A. 
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint, in accordance with the provisions of this Charter, a Commission of the Aging, which shall consist of five (5) members, each of whom shall serve a term of four (4) years, said terms to overlap.
B. 
Said Commission shall have the powers and duties as are now or may hereafter be conferred or imposed upon said Commission by the Connecticut General Statutes, Special Acts or local ordinances.
[Added 11-7-1978]
A. 
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint, in accordance with the provisions of this Charter, a Library Board of Directors, which shall consist of twelve (12) members, each of whom shall serve a term of four (4) years, said terms to overlap.
[Amended 11-6-1984]
B. 
Said Library Board of Directors shall have the powers and duties as are now or may hereafter be conferred or imposed upon said Library Board of Directors by the Connecticut General Statutes, Special Acts or local ordinances.
[Added 11-6-1984]
A. 
The Board, of Selectmen shall appoint, in accordance with the provisions of this Charter and the provisions of Section 7-136 of the Connecticut General Statutes, an Economic Development Commission consisting of seven (7) members, each of whom shall serve a term as prescribed by law.
B. 
Said Commission shall have the powers and duties as are now or may hereafter be conferred or imposed upon said Commission by the Connecticut General Statutes, Special Acts or local ordinances.
[Added 11-6-1984]
A. 
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint, in accordance with the provisions of this Charter, an Insurance and Pension Plan Commission consisting of five (5) members and two (2) ex officio members to serve as prescribed by ordinance dated June 10, 1982. The members shall serve overlapping terms.
[Amended 11-4-2025]
B. 
Said Commission shall have the powers and duties as are now or may hereafter be conferred or imposed upon said Commission by the Connecticut General Statutes, Special Acts or local ordinances.