Town of New Canaan, CT Charter

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Town of New Canaan, CT

Fairfield County

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Part I: The Charter
Ch C Charter
Ch C Art I General Provisions
§ C1-1 Title.
§ C1-2 Definitions.
§ C1-3 General powers of Town.
§ C1-4 Additional boards, commissions or agencies.
Ch C Art II Town Officers and Membership of the Town Council, Boards, Commissions and Committees
§ C2-1 Town officers.
§ C2-2 Date of biennial elections.
§ C2-3 Minority representation.
§ C2-4 Certain Town officers required to be electors of the Town.
§ C2-5 Manner of election of officers and appointment of board members.
§ C2-6 Oath of office required.
§ C2-7 Continuation in office of officers, Town Council members and board members.
§ C2-8 Removal from office.
§ C2-9 Failure to attend meetings.
§ C2-10 Action by adjourned meetings to be effective.
§ C2-11 Requirements for meetings of boards, commissions and committees.
§ C2-12 Procedure where lack of quorum.
§ C2-13 Time requirements for performance.
§ C2-14 Code of Ethics for Town officers and employees, members of the Town Council, boards, commissions and committees.
Ch C Art III The First Selectman and the Board of Selectmen
§ C3-1 The First Selectman.
§ C3-2 The Board of Selectmen.
§ C3-3 Duty to carry out provisions of Charter.
§ C3-4 Power to make certain appointments and fill certain vacancies.
§ C3-5 Power to fill vacancies in elective positions and manner of filling the same.
§ C3-6 Duties of purchasing agent for Town.
§ C3-7 Authority to act as purchasing agent for Board of Education.
§ C3-8 Secretarial assistance.
§ C3-9 Acceptance of public highways.
§ C3-10 Acceptance of road and drainage deeds.
§ C3-11 Death, resignation or disability of members of Board of Selectmen.
§ C3-12 Special election to fill vacancies on Board.
Ch C Art IV The Town Council
§ C4-1 Powers and duties.
§ C4-2 Membership.
§ C4-3 Election and terms of office; political affiliations.
§ C4-4 Vacancies.
§ C4-5 Compensation.
§ C4-6 Organization.
§ C4-7 Meetings.
§ C4-8 Quorum; action by Town Council.
§ C4-9 Records.
§ C4-10 Notices required for action on appropriations, ordinances and bylaws.
§ C4-11 Manner of making bylaws and ordinances.
§ C4-12 Method of approving appropriations.
§ C4-13 Requirements for filing and publication of Town Council actions.
§ C4-14 Effective date of legislative action.
§ C4-15 Legislative action subject to referendum.
§ C4-16 Procedure and rules for referendum on legislative action.
Ch C Art V Board of Finance, Financial Procedures, Taxes, Audit Committee
§ C5-1 Composition of Board of Finance; qualifications of members.
§ C5-2 Appointment and term of office of members of Board of Finance.
§ C5-3 Officers and organization.
§ C5-4 Powers and duties of officers and alternates.
§ C5-5 Quorum.
§ C5-6 Requests for annual appropriations.
§ C5-7 Requests for capital expenditures.
§ C5-8 Pension and retirement systems and insurance.
§ C5-9 Board of Finance budget recommendations and public hearing.
§ C5-10 Annual budget meeting.
§ C5-11 Town Council action upon annual appropriations and other recommendations.
§ C5-12 Action upon special appropriations.
§ C5-13 Bond issues.
§ C5-14 Special taxes for special improvements.
§ C5-15 Sewer taxing district.
§ C5-16 Assessments for sewer improvements or extensions.
§ C5-17 Procedure for abolishing sewer taxing district.
§ C5-18 Procedure for establishing special tax districts.
§ C5-19 Tax Collector to be appointed by Selectmen.
§ C5-20 Tax warrant.
§ C5-21 Payment of taxes.
§ C5-22 Liens on property for taxes.
§ C5-23 Lien fees.
§ C5-24 Water rates.
§ C5-25 Payment of judgments against Town.
§ C5-26 Audit Committee, composition and qualification of members.
§ C5-27 Appointment and terms of office.
§ C5-28 Organization, officers, records and quorums.
§ C5-29 Powers and duties.
§ C5-30 Recipients of Town funds required to keep records for auditing purposes.
§ C5-31 System of accounting.
§ C5-32 Transfer of unexpended balances.
§ C5-33 Expenditures exceeding appropriations.
§ C5-34 Penalty for exceeding appropriation.
Ch C Art VI Assessor; Assessing Procedures; Board of Assessment Appeals
§ C6-1 Assessor.
§ C6-2 Requirements for filing real estate lists.
§ C6-3 Requirements for filing personal property lists.
§ C6-4 Penalty for failure to file required lists.
§ C6-5 Assessment day; lodging of grand list.
§ C6-6 Board of Assessment Appeals.
§ C6-7 Board of Assessment Appeals meeting dates.
§ C6-8 General Statutes to prevail.
Ch C Art VII Board of Education
§ C7-1 Membership, powers and duties.
§ C7-2 Election of members.
§ C7-3 (Reserved)
§ C7-4 Vacancies.
Ch C Art VIII Fire Commission
§ C8-1 Establishment of Fire Commission.
§ C8-2 Appointment and terms of office.
§ C8-3 Organization, officers, records and quorum.
§ C8-4 Powers and duties.
Ch C Art IX Health and Human Services Commission
§ C9-1 Composition and qualification of members.
§ C9-2 Appointment and terms of office.
§ C9-3 Organization, officers, records and quorum.
§ C9-4 Powers and duties.
Ch C Art X Inland Wetlands Commission
§ C10-1 Composition and qualification of members.
§ C10-2 Appointment and terms of office.
§ C10-3 Organization, officers, records and quorums.
§ C10-4 Alternate members.
§ C10-5 Powers and duties.
Ch C Art XI Conservation Commission
§ C11-1 Composition; compensation; qualification of members.
§ C11-2 Appointment; terms of office.
§ C11-3 Organization; official records and quorum.
§ C11-4 Powers and duties.
Ch C Art XII Parks and Recreation Commission
§ C12-1 Composition and qualification of members.
§ C12-2 Appointment and terms of office.
§ C12-3 Organization, officers, records and quorum.
§ C12-4 Powers and duties.
§ C12-5 Method of acquisition of park property.
§ C12-6 Park bylaws, permits and use by nonprofit groups.
Ch C Art XIII Parking Commission
§ C13-1 Composition; qualification of members.
§ C13-2 (Reserved)
§ C13-3 Appointment and terms of office.
§ C13-4 Organization, officers, records and quorum.
§ C13-5 Powers and duties.
§ C13-6 Annual appropriations.
§ C13-7 Existing contracts continued.
Ch C Art XIV Town Employees and Ethics Board
§ C14-1 Personnel under jurisdiction of Selectmen.
§ C14-2 Classification and compensation plan.
§ C14-3 Ordinance establishing classification and compensation plan and merit system.
§ C14-4 Code of Ethics for Town employees and officials.
§ C14-5 Ethics Board.
§ C14-6 Appointment and term of office.
§ C14-7 Organization, officers, records and quorum.
§ C14-8 Powers and duties.
Ch C Art XV Police Commission
§ C15-1 Composition and qualification of members.
§ C15-2 Appointment and term of office.
§ C15-3 Organization, officers, records and quorum.
§ C15-4 Powers and duties.
§ C15-5 Traffic regulations.
Ch C Art XVI Planning and Zoning Commission
§ C16-1 Composition and qualification of members.
§ C16-2 Appointment and terms of office.
§ C16-3 Organization, officers, records and quorums.
§ C16-4 Powers and duties.
§ C16-5 Town planning and zoning rules and regulations and plan of conservation and development to remain in effect.
§ C16-6 Procedure for holding public hearings.
§ C16-7 Alternate members.
Ch C Art XVII Public Works Department
§ C17-1 Powers and duties.
§ C17-2 Appointment and term of office of Director of Public Works.
§ C17-3 Appointment and term of office of Town Engineer.
§ C17-4 Duties and powers of Director of Public Works and Town Engineer.
§ C17-5 Streets and highways.
§ C17-6 Public buildings, works and improvements.
§ C17-7 The maintenance of public grounds, including parks.
§ C17-8 Equipment.
§ C17-9 Sewer and water systems; refuse disposal.
§ C17-10 School property.
Ch C Art XVIII Town Attorney
§ C18-1
Ch C Art XIX Town Clerk
§ C19-1 Term of office and duties.
§ C19-2 Town Clerk and Assistant Town Clerks to be paid by the Town.
§ C19-3 Disposition of Town Clerk fees.
§ C19-4 (Reserved)
Ch C Art XX Zoning Board of Appeals
§ C20-1 Composition and qualification of members.
§ C20-2 Appointment of members and alternates; terms of office.
§ C20-3 Organization, officers and records.
§ C20-4 Seating of alternates of Zoning Board of Appeals.
§ C20-5 Powers and duties.
Ch C Art XXI Miscellaneous Provisions
§ C21-1 Language of the Charter.
§ C21-2 Validity.
§ C21-3 Captions.
§ C21-4 Continuation of existing contracts.
§ C21-5 Continuation of ordinances and bylaws.
§ C21-6 Continuation of appropriations and Town funds.
§ C21-7 Authority to adopt codification of ordinances and bylaws by reference.
§ C21-8 Library Board.
§ C21-9 Special Legislation amendments to be approved.
§ C21-10 Periodic Charter Review.
§ C21-11 Effective date.
Part II: Ordinances and Bylaws
Ch 2 Fees
Ch 3 Adoption of Code
Ch 4 General Provisions
Ch 4A Alarm Devices
Ch 4B Affordable Housing Committee
Ch 5 Amusements
Ch 6 Animals and Fowl
Ch 7 Auctions
Ch 7A Blight Abatement and Prevention
Ch 8 Buildings, Numbering of
Ch 9 Building and Demolition Codes
Ch 10 Approval of Improvements
Ch 10A Carryout Bags
Ch 11 Citation Hearing Procedure
Ch 11A Conservation Commission
Ch 12 Utilities Commission
Ch 12A Demolition
Ch 13 Disposal and Sale of Tangible Personal Property
Ch 14 Elections
Ch 14A Emergency Management
Ch 15 Emergency Medical Services Commission
Ch 16 Inland Wetlands Commission
Ch 17 Ethics, Code of
Ch 17A (Reserved)
Ch 18 Explosives
Ch 19 Finance, Board of
Ch 20 Fallout Shelters
Ch 21 Firearms and Hunting
Ch 22 Fire Department
Ch 23 Fire Zones
Ch 25 Garbage and Refuse
Ch 26 Going-Out-Of-Business Sales
Ch 27 Hair and Beauty Shops
Ch 28 Health and Human Services Commission
Ch 29 Health and Sanitation
Ch 30 (Reserved)
Ch 31 Historic District and Commission
Ch 32 Housing Code
Ch 33 Impounding Motor Vehicles
Ch 33A Inland Wetlands and Watercourses
Ch 34 Inspection Fees for Subdivisions
Ch 35 (Reserved)
Ch 36 Newsracks
Ch 36A Noise
Ch 37 Nuisances
Ch 39 Offenses — Miscellaneous
Ch 39A Picketing, Residential
Ch 40 Planning and Zoning Commission
Ch 41 Off-Street Parking Regulations
Ch 42 Parks
Ch 43 Peddlers and Itinerant Vendors
Ch 44 Personnel Rules and Regulations
Ch 46 (Reserved)
Ch 48 Police
Ch 49 Recycling
Ch 49A Regional Council of Governments
Ch 50 Sale or Lease of Town-Owned Real Property
Ch 51 Sewers and Sewage Disposal
Ch 52 Stormwater Quality Management and Discharge Control
Ch 54 Streets and Sidewalks
Ch 55 Subdivision Regulations
Ch 56 (Reserved)
Ch 57 Taxation
Ch 57A (Reserved)
Ch 58 Traffic Regulations
Ch 58A Tree Board
Ch 59 Water
Ch 60 Zoning Regulations
Ch 61 Zoning Enforcement
Ch 62 Audit Committee
Disposition List
Ch DL Disposition List

Chapter C Charter

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[HISTORY: Approved by the Charter Revision Commission of the Town of New Canaan 7-12-2016; approved by the Town Council 7-20-2016; approved by the electors 11-8-2016, effective 11-9-2016.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]

Editor's Note: This Charter also supersedes the former Charter of the Town of New Canaan, approved by the Charter Revision Commission of the Town of New Canaan 6-27-2005, approved by the Town Council 7-13-2005, approved by the electors 11-8-2005, effective 11-9-2005.

Article I General Provisions

§ C1-2 Definitions.

§ C1-3 General powers of Town.

§ C1-4 Additional boards, commissions or agencies.

Article II Town Officers and Membership of the Town Council, Boards, Commissions and Committees

§ C2-1 Town officers.

§ C2-2 Date of biennial elections.

§ C2-3 Minority representation.

§ C2-4 Certain Town officers required to be electors of the Town.

§ C2-5 Manner of election of officers and appointment of board members.

§ C2-6 Oath of office required.

§ C2-7 Continuation in office of officers, Town Council members and board members.

§ C2-8 Removal from office.

§ C2-9 Failure to attend meetings.

§ C2-10 Action by adjourned meetings to be effective.

§ C2-11 Requirements for meetings of boards, commissions and committees.

§ C2-12 Procedure where lack of quorum.

§ C2-13 Time requirements for performance.

§ C2-14 Code of Ethics for Town officers and employees, members of the Town Council, boards, commissions and committees.

Article III The First Selectman and the Board of Selectmen

§ C3-1 The First Selectman.

§ C3-2 The Board of Selectmen.

§ C3-3 Duty to carry out provisions of Charter.

§ C3-4 Power to make certain appointments and fill certain vacancies.

§ C3-5 Power to fill vacancies in elective positions and manner of filling the same.

§ C3-6 Duties of purchasing agent for Town.

§ C3-7 Authority to act as purchasing agent for Board of Education.

§ C3-8 Secretarial assistance.

§ C3-9 Acceptance of public highways.

§ C3-10 Acceptance of road and drainage deeds.

§ C3-11 Death, resignation or disability of members of Board of Selectmen.

§ C3-12 Special election to fill vacancies on Board.

Article IV The Town Council

§ C4-1 Powers and duties.

§ C4-2 Membership.

§ C4-3 Election and terms of office; political affiliations.

§ C4-4 Vacancies.

§ C4-5 Compensation.

§ C4-6 Organization.

§ C4-7 Meetings.

§ C4-8 Quorum; action by Town Council.

§ C4-9 Records.

§ C4-10 Notices required for action on appropriations, ordinances and bylaws.

§ C4-11 Manner of making bylaws and ordinances.

§ C4-12 Method of approving appropriations.

§ C4-13 Requirements for filing and publication of Town Council actions.

§ C4-14 Effective date of legislative action.

§ C4-15 Legislative action subject to referendum.

§ C4-16 Procedure and rules for referendum on legislative action.

Article V Board of Finance, Financial Procedures, Taxes, Audit Committee

§ C5-1 Composition of Board of Finance; qualifications of members.

§ C5-2 Appointment and term of office of members of Board of Finance.

§ C5-3 Officers and organization.

§ C5-4 Powers and duties of officers and alternates.

§ C5-5 Quorum.

§ C5-6 Requests for annual appropriations.

§ C5-7 Requests for capital expenditures.

§ C5-8 Pension and retirement systems and insurance.

§ C5-9 Board of Finance budget recommendations and public hearing.

§ C5-10 Annual budget meeting.

§ C5-11 Town Council action upon annual appropriations and other recommendations.

§ C5-12 Action upon special appropriations.

§ C5-13 Bond issues.

§ C5-14 Special taxes for special improvements.

§ C5-15 Sewer taxing district.

§ C5-16 Assessments for sewer improvements or extensions.

§ C5-17 Procedure for abolishing sewer taxing district.

§ C5-18 Procedure for establishing special tax districts.

§ C5-19 Tax Collector to be appointed by Selectmen.

§ C5-20 Tax warrant.

§ C5-21 Payment of taxes.

§ C5-22 Liens on property for taxes.

§ C5-23 Lien fees.

§ C5-24 Water rates.

§ C5-25 Payment of judgments against Town.

§ C5-26 Audit Committee, composition and qualification of members.

§ C5-27 Appointment and terms of office.

§ C5-28 Organization, officers, records and quorums.

§ C5-29 Powers and duties.

§ C5-30 Recipients of Town funds required to keep records for auditing purposes.

§ C5-31 System of accounting.

§ C5-32 Transfer of unexpended balances.

§ C5-33 Expenditures exceeding appropriations.

§ C5-34 Penalty for exceeding appropriation.

Article VI Assessor; Assessing Procedures; Board of Assessment Appeals

§ C6-1 Assessor.

§ C6-2 Requirements for filing real estate lists.

§ C6-3 Requirements for filing personal property lists.

§ C6-4 Penalty for failure to file required lists.

§ C6-5 Assessment day; lodging of grand list.

§ C6-6 Board of Assessment Appeals.

§ C6-7 Board of Assessment Appeals meeting dates.

§ C6-8 General Statutes to prevail.

Article VII Board of Education

§ C7-1 Membership, powers and duties.

§ C7-2 Election of members.

§ C7-3 (Reserved)

§ C7-4 Vacancies.

Article VIII Fire Commission

§ C8-1 Establishment of Fire Commission.

§ C8-2 Appointment and terms of office.

§ C8-3 Organization, officers, records and quorum.

§ C8-4 Powers and duties.

Article IX Health and Human Services Commission

§ C9-1 Composition and qualification of members.

§ C9-2 Appointment and terms of office.

§ C9-3 Organization, officers, records and quorum.

§ C9-4 Powers and duties.

Article X Inland Wetlands Commission

§ C10-1 Composition and qualification of members.

§ C10-2 Appointment and terms of office.

§ C10-3 Organization, officers, records and quorums.

§ C10-4 Alternate members.

§ C10-5 Powers and duties.

Article XI Conservation Commission

§ C11-1 Composition; compensation; qualification of members.

§ C11-2 Appointment; terms of office.

§ C11-3 Organization; official records and quorum.

§ C11-4 Powers and duties.

Article XII Parks and Recreation Commission

§ C12-1 Composition and qualification of members.

§ C12-2 Appointment and terms of office.

§ C12-3 Organization, officers, records and quorum.

§ C12-4 Powers and duties.

§ C12-5 Method of acquisition of park property.

§ C12-6 Park bylaws, permits and use by nonprofit groups.

Article XIII Parking Commission

§ C13-1 Composition; qualification of members.

§ C13-2 (Reserved)

§ C13-3 Appointment and terms of office.

§ C13-4 Organization, officers, records and quorum.

§ C13-5 Powers and duties.

§ C13-6 Annual appropriations.

§ C13-7 Existing contracts continued.

Article XIV Town Employees and Ethics Board

§ C14-1 Personnel under jurisdiction of Selectmen.

§ C14-2 Classification and compensation plan.

§ C14-3 Ordinance establishing classification and compensation plan and merit system.

§ C14-4 Code of Ethics for Town employees and officials.

§ C14-5 Ethics Board.

§ C14-6 Appointment and term of office.

§ C14-7 Organization, officers, records and quorum.

§ C14-8 Powers and duties.

Article XV Police Commission

§ C15-1 Composition and qualification of members.

§ C15-2 Appointment and term of office.

§ C15-3 Organization, officers, records and quorum.

§ C15-4 Powers and duties.

§ C15-5 Traffic regulations.

Article XVI Planning and Zoning Commission

§ C16-1 Composition and qualification of members.

§ C16-2 Appointment and terms of office.

§ C16-3 Organization, officers, records and quorums.

§ C16-4 Powers and duties.

§ C16-5 Town planning and zoning rules and regulations and plan of conservation and development to remain in effect.

§ C16-6 Procedure for holding public hearings.

§ C16-7 Alternate members.

Article XVII Public Works Department

§ C17-1 Powers and duties.

§ C17-2 Appointment and term of office of Director of Public Works.

§ C17-3 Appointment and term of office of Town Engineer.

§ C17-4 Duties and powers of Director of Public Works and Town Engineer.

§ C17-5 Streets and highways.

§ C17-6 Public buildings, works and improvements.

§ C17-7 The maintenance of public grounds, including parks.

§ C17-8 Equipment.

§ C17-9 Sewer and water systems; refuse disposal.

§ C17-10 School property.

Article XVIII Town Attorney

Article XIX Town Clerk

§ C19-1 Term of office and duties.

§ C19-2 Town Clerk and Assistant Town Clerks to be paid by the Town.

§ C19-3 Disposition of Town Clerk fees.

§ C19-4 (Reserved)

Article XX Zoning Board of Appeals

§ C20-1 Composition and qualification of members.

§ C20-2 Appointment of members and alternates; terms of office.

§ C20-3 Organization, officers and records.

§ C20-4 Seating of alternates of Zoning Board of Appeals.

§ C20-5 Powers and duties.

Article XXI Miscellaneous Provisions

§ C21-1 Language of the Charter.

§ C21-2 Validity.

§ C21-3 Captions.

§ C21-4 Continuation of existing contracts.

§ C21-5 Continuation of ordinances and bylaws.

§ C21-6 Continuation of appropriations and Town funds.

§ C21-7 Authority to adopt codification of ordinances and bylaws by reference.

§ C21-8 Library Board.

§ C21-9 Special Legislation amendments to be approved.

§ C21-10 Periodic Charter Review.

§ C21-11 Effective date.