All the inhabitants dwelling within the territorial limits of
the Town of Southington as the same now are or may hereafter be established
by law shall constitute forever hereafter to be a body politic and
corporate under the name of the "Town of Southington," hereinafter
called "the Town," and as such shall have perpetual succession and
may hold and exercise all powers and privileges heretofore exercised
by said Town and not inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter,
the additional powers and privileges herein conferred and all powers
and privileges conferred upon towns under the general laws of the
State of Connecticut.
The municipal government provided by this Charter shall be known
as the Council-manager form of government. Pursuant to its provisions
and subject only to the limitations imposed by the Constitution of
the State and by this Charter, all powers of the Town shall be exercised
in the manner prescribed by the General Statutes or this Charter,
or, if the manner is not so prescribed, then in such manner as may
be prescribed by ordinance.
By virtue of this Charter said Town shall be absolutely vested
with, possess and enjoy all lands, tenements, hereditaments, property
and rights, choses in action and estates which at the effective date
of this Charter were vested in said Town. The said Town shall continue
to be liable for all debts and obligations of every kind for which
said Town shall have been liable on said date, whether accrued or
not. Nothing herein shall be construed to affect the right of said
Town to collect any assessment, charge, debt or lien for the construction,
alteration or repair of any sewer, pavement, sidewalk, curb or gutter,
or for any other public improvement or service. If any contract has
been entered into by said Town prior to the effective date of this
Charter or any bond or undertaking has been given by or in favor of
said Town which contains provision that the same may be enforced by
any officer, board, commission, bureau or department therein named
which is hereby abolished, such contract, bond or undertaking shall
be in no manner impaired but shall continue in full force and effect,
and the powers conferred and the duties imposed with references to
the same upon any such officer, board, commission, bureau or department
shall, except as otherwise provided in this Charter, thereafter be
exercised and discharged by the Town Council.
In addition to all powers granted to towns under the Constitution
and general law, the Town shall have all powers specifically granted
by this Charter and all powers fairly implied in or incident to the
powers expressly granted, and all other powers incident to the management
of the property, government and affairs of the Town, including the
power to enter into contracts with the United States or any federal
agency, State of Connecticut, or any political subdivision thereof
for services and the use of facilities, the exercise of which is not
expressly forbidden by the Constitution and general law of the State
of Connecticut. The enumeration of particular powers in this and any
other chapter of this Charter shall not be construed as limiting this
general grant of power but shall be considered as an addition thereto.
