A. 
Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, all appointed boards, commissions and similar bodies shall have the powers and duties prescribed by law.
B. 
All boards shall establish procedures for the conduct of their meetings and the execution of their duties.
C. 
Copies of all minutes taken by each board and the recorded vote of each member thereof on all issues shall be filed with the Town Clerk and with the First Selectman within the time specified in the General Statutes. The Town Clerk shall maintain files of such minutes, which shall be public record.
D. 
Except as otherwise prescribed by state statutes, members of boards, commissions and similar bodies shall serve without compensation, except that necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties shall be paid from an appropriation for the purpose.
E. 
All boards, commissions and similar bodies shall include time on their agenda for the public to address issues before the body.
F. 
For purposes of this Charter, and unless otherwise provided by statute or other Charter provision, a majority of the membership, including vacancies, of a board, commission or similar body, shall constitute a quorum.
Except as otherwise provided herein, all members of boards, commissions and similar bodies shall be electors of the Town and shall have such qualifications as may be prescribed by the Board of Selectmen or by the General Statutes. Except as otherwise provided herein, if any such officer or member shall cease to be an elector of the Town, such person shall thereupon cease to hold such office or membership.
Any vacancy in any appointive board, commission or similar body, from whatever cause arising, shall be filled by the Board of Selectmen. Persons appointed to fill such vacancies shall serve for the unexpired portion of the term vacated.
There shall continue to be a Planning and Zoning Commission, an Economic and Industrial Development Commission, a Housing Authority, a Redevelopment Agency, which Agency shall cease to exist no later than the date of the municipal election in November, 2001, a Housing Code Review Board, a Committee on the Needs of the Aging, and there shall be established a Conservation Commission in accordance with Section 705 of this Charter. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Charter, the composition, members and alternates, terms of office, powers and duties and all other incidents of said existing and future boards, commissions and other similar bodies shall be determined by Special Acts applicable to the Town and ordinances and, where appropriate, resolutions of the Town, as the same may be amended from time to time.
The first of January, following the adoption of this Charter, there shall be formed a Conservation Commission consisting of five members and two alternates, not more than three of whom shall be of the same political party. Three members and one alternate shall be appointed for two-year terms starting January 1, 1981, and two members and one alternate shall be appointed for four-year terms starting January 1, 1981. Appointments for terms starting January 1, 1983 and every two years thereafter shall be for four-year terms.
The Conservation Commission shall devote its efforts to ensuring the sound development, conservation, supervision and regulation of natural resources of the Town and shall have such powers and duties as prescribed by the General Statutes.
The Town shall continue to participate in such regional and interlocal agencies and programs as authorized by ordinances adopted pursuant to the applicable provisions of the General Statutes. Nothing in this Charter shall be construed as limiting the authority of the Town to continue such participation or join new regional programs as authorized by the General Statutes.
No permanent appointive board, commission or similar body shall be abolished except upon the affirmative vote of a Town Meeting. Such dissolution shall not become effective until 30 days after such action.
There shall be such additional appointive boards, commissions or similar bodies as the legislative body of the Town may by ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, from time to time determine.
Two alternate members, not more than one of whom shall be of the same political party, shall be appointed by the Board of Finance to hold office for a period of six years. Such alternate members shall have all the powers and duties vested in a member of the Board of Finance and shall be electors and taxpayers of the Town. If a regular member is absent or disqualified, such member shall designate an alternate to act in his stead. In the event a regular member shall fail or refuse to designate an alternate to so act, the majority of the regular members of the Board of Finance not absent and not disqualified may designate an alternate from the same political party as the regular member to act for such absent or disqualified member.