[Amended by Sp. Act, Jan. Sess., 1955, Sp.
No. 617, 27 C.S.A. 558, approved 8-11-1955; amended by referendum 10-1-1962; amended by
referendum 10-5-1964; amended by referendum 11-7-1978; amended by referendum 11-5-1991; amended by referendum 11-5-1996; amended by
referendum 11-4-2003; amended by referendum 11-4-2008; amended by referendum11-8-2022]
The Board of Directors shall appoint a Town Attorney, whose
compensation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors, and when the
need exists, the Board of Directors shall appoint a Bond Counsel.
The Town Attorney shall be the head of the Department of Law. The
Town Attorney shall be the legal adviser for the Town, the Town Manager,
Board of Directors, Board of Education, and all departments, boards,
commissions, bureaus and other officers in all matters affecting the
Town or relating to their official duties. The Town Attorney shall
appear for and protect the rights and interests of the Town in all
actions, suits and proceedings brought by or against it or any of
the departments, boards, commissions, bureaus, or officers on account
of matters involving the performance of their official duties or affecting
the Town, and discharge such other legal duties as may be prescribed
by law or by ordinance. The Town Attorney shall have power, subject
to the approval of the Town Manager, to appeal from orders, decisions
and judgments in which the Town, or any department, commission, board,
bureau or officer is a party. The Town Attorney shall also have the
power to enter into any agreement, compromise or settlement of any
claims against the Town in an amount not to exceed ten thousand dollars
($10,000.00). The Town Attorney shall have the power, subject to the
approval of the Town Manager, to enter any agreement, compromise or
settlement of claims against the Town in an amount not to exceed twenty
thousand dollars ($20,000.00). Any agreement, compromise or settlement
of claims against the Town exceeding twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00)
shall require the approval of the Town Manager, Town Attorney and
the Board of Directors. Notwithstanding the above, the Town Attorney,
with the concurrence of the Town Manager, may enter into any agreement,
compromise or settlement of any land use appeals, tax appeals, medical
insurance claims, workers' compensation or heart and hypertension
claims (excluding full and final stipulations), and all other claims
for which settlement authority is vested in an entity other than the
Board of Directors. The Town Attorney shall prepare or approve all
forms of contracts and other instruments to which the Town is a party
or in which it has an interest. The Town Attorney may, with the approval
of the Town Manager, employ special counsel to assist in the conduct
of important cases or proceedings to which the Town is a party or
in which it has an interest. Except on behalf of the Town, the Town
Attorney shall not appear as Counsel before any board, commission,
officer or other agency of the Town.
[Amended by referendum 11-7-1978; amended by
referendum11-8-2022]
The Board of Directors and Town Manager, Board
of Education and Director of any department, commission, board, bureau
or officer, or committee appointed pursuant to law or ordinance, may
request in writing and the Town Attorney thereupon shall render their
written opinion upon any question of law involving their respective
powers and duties.
[Amended by referendum 11-7-1978; amended by
referendum11-8-2022]
The Town Attorney may appoint such assistant
or assistants as the Board of Directors may authorize to aid the Town
Attorney in the discharge of their duties, and any such assistant
shall perform such duties as may be imposed upon him by the Town Attorney
and shall receive such compensation as the Board of Directors shall
provide. The Town Attorney may remove any such assistant at any time.
