This instrument, amending the Charter of the Town of New Canaan,
shall be known as the "Charter."
In the interpretation of the Charter, the words and phrases
set forth in this section shall be construed and defined, unless otherwise
clearly qualified by their context, as follows:
Rule or rules for the government of officers, boards, commissions
or committees of the Town.
A resident of the Town of New Canaan qualified by law to
vote in a Town election.
The chief executive and chief administrative officer of the
Town elected to said office in accordance with the state statutes.
The Connecticut General Statutes, as amended.
The list of the assessed values of taxable property in the
Town, and including the list of the assessed values of taxable property
in the sewer taxing district.
Any public road, street, way, etc., including unimproved
portions within the limits of the right-of-way.
Any appointed or elected office for which an oath of office is administered or a salary, wages, or fees are paid, including Town employees and Town officers described in § C2-1.
Rule or rules and regulations or local laws enacted by the
Town's legislative body and affecting or regulating the general
public within the Town.
Publication shall be consistent with the governing General
Statutes. If required by the General Statutes, publication shall be
in a newspaper having a substantial circulation in the Town. If not
required by the General Statutes, the Town may enact an ordinance
providing for publication by any legal means, or in any legal manner,
that provides for widespread dissemination by electronic means to
Town residents.
The Board of Selectmen of the Town, consisting of three elected
members and including the First Selectman.
That real property in the Town so situated that it is served
or is capable of being served by the sewerage system of the Town,
the boundaries of which have been established or delineated by the
Town.
When used to describe a qualification for public office,
the owner or owners of real property assessed therefore upon the last
completed Grand List or the husband or wife of such owner of real
property.
The Town of New Canaan, Connecticut.
The legislative body of the Town having the legislative powers
provided in the Charter or the General Statutes.
The common seal of the Town.
A statement prescribed by the Charter or by the General Statutes
giving notice of the date, hour, place, as well as the purpose of
any event, meeting or public hearing of the Town Council or of any
official, board, commission or committee of the Town.
The Town shall retain and may exercise every power and privilege
possessed by it at the time this Charter shall take effect and all
powers and privileges granted to towns by the General Statutes not
inconsistent herewith. The enumeration hereinafter of specific powers
shall not be construed as limiting the powers heretofore possessed
or herein confirmed and granted. The Town shall have the power:
(1)
To lay out, establish, accept, maintain or discontinue public streets,
highways and other public places, establish the boundaries and fix
the grades thereof, and to adopt and enforce rules and regulations
governing the opening of such streets, highways and public places
for the purpose of laying water mains, electric conduits, sewers and
gas mains or for making any connections therewith or for any other
purpose.
(2)
To establish sidewalks, determine the width and materials thereof
and to fix grades therefor and to establish building and curblines.
(3)
To provide for the lighting of streets, highways and other public
places.
(4)
To adopt and enforce police regulations concerning traffic upon and
other use of the streets, highways and other public places.
(5)
To establish and maintain a system or systems of public sewerage
and to adopt and enforce rules and regulations governing the operation
and use thereof; to establish and maintain a public system or systems
for the collection and disposal, or either of them, of garbage and
refuse and to adopt and enforce rules and regulations governing the
operation and use of any such system and the collection and disposal
of garbage and refuse by individuals, firms or corporations.
(6)
To provide and maintain a system of public water supply and distribution
for domestic, business and industrial use, and for fire protection.
(7)
To establish and maintain a police force; to establish and provide
for and maintain an adequate system of fire protection and to adopt
and enforce rules and regulations governing the same.
(8)
To establish a retirement and pension system or systems for members
of the police force and fire department, and to provide for a retirement
payment or pension to any paid or salaried officer or employee of
the Town upon his or her retirement.
(9)
To adopt and enforce rules and regulations governing the design,
construction and use of buildings and all electrical, gas, heating
and plumbing installations.
(10)
To adopt and enforce sanitary rules and regulations.
(11)
To take private property for public use upon paying just compensation
therefor.
(12)
To levy, assess and collect taxes to pay the Town debt, defray its
lawful expenses and to promote its general welfare.
(13)
To make and collect assessments upon property receiving the benefit
of special improvements and to award damages in proper cases by reason
of any public improvement, provided such assessments or awards of
damage shall be levied or awarded equally upon all property similarly
situated, benefited or affected.
(14)
To lay and collect a sewer tax upon all property receiving the benefit
of any public sewer, whether such property is connected therewith
or not, provided such tax shall be levied equally upon all property
similarly situated or benefited, such tax to be so computed and laid
as to provide a revenue sufficient to meet the cost of maintaining
the public sewerage system or systems and to pay the interest on all
outstanding sewer or filtration bonds heretofore issued or hereafter
issued by the Town to meet sinking fund requirements sufficient to
pay the principal of such bonds at their maturity, provided the Town
may, in the manner hereinafter prescribed, provide for the payment
of the interest and principal of such bonds or any part thereof in
the general tax levy upon the property of the entire Town.
(15)
To establish separate or special taxing districts, define their purposes
and fix and alter their boundaries as hereinafter provided.
(16)
To borrow money and give security therefor, subject to the restrictions
and limitations imposed by law.
(17)
To make and enforce all bylaws and ordinances, not inconsistent with
law, which may be necessary or proper to carry into execution the
foregoing powers or any of them and all other powers which may be
hereafter vested in the Town.
The Town Council shall have the authority to establish, by ordinance,
additional boards, commissions, or agencies which are required by
the General Statutes, or which are specifically allowed by the General
Statutes, or which the Town Council deems advisable or necessary to
carry out any municipal powers, duties or responsibilities under the
General Statutes. All such officers, departments, boards, commissions
or agencies shall be elected, appointed and organized in the manner
provided by the General Statutes, except as otherwise provided by
the Charter or by ordinances or resolutions adopted pursuant to the
Charter. The Town Council may, by ordinance, alter the method of election,
appointment or organization of any or all such additional boards,
commissions or agencies, including combining or separating the duties
of each, unless specifically prohibited from making such alteration
by the state Constitution or the General Statutes.
