This revised version of the Charter ("Charter"), which has been
enacted in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 99 of the General
Statutes of Connecticut, as amended, is the organic law of the Town
of Canton ("Town") and is intended to provide for the administration
of the Town's affairs.
Matters of administration of the Town's affairs not provided
for by this Charter by lawful resolution or by ordinance shall be
governed by the General Statutes and, to the extent that any existing
special act of Connecticut ("special act") applicable to the Town
is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter, by said special
act.
In this Charter, the following terms and phrases shall have
the meanings indicated here, except as otherwise prescribed by an
applicable provision of the General Statutes:
"Agency" means all Town agencies, authorities, boards, commissions,
and committees (including ad hoc, temporary, and advisory committees),
except where the context denotes a reference to a specific body or
entity only, but shall not include the Board of Education, except
in instances where specific reference to the Board of Education is
expressly made and plainly intended.
"Elector" means a United States citizen who is a bona fide
resident of the Town and who is admitted to vote at Town Meetings
and at regular or special Town elections.
General Statues of the State of Connecticut as revised and
amended from time to time.
"Official" means any natural person holding elective or appointive
Town office, whether paid or unpaid, part-time or full-time, including
regular and alternate members of agencies.
A permanent local law, municipal rule, or regulation of general
applicability adopted pursuant to a delegation of power from the state
under the General Statutes.
"Person" means any natural person, partnership, corporation,
limited liability company, association, or other legally recognized
entity.
"Petition" means a written document presenting a request
by a designated number of electors/voters on a form prescribed by
the Town Clerk and signed as prescribed by the General Statutes.
"Publication of Notice" means providing the public with a
copy of: an announcement, a notice, a call of a meeting, a report,
or an ordinance. Except as otherwise required by this Charter or by
the General Statutes, the copy may be provided by: (a) its publication
in a newspaper having circulation in the Town; (b) its publication
on the Town's website; (c) its posting at a place accessible
to the public, as designated by the Board of Selectmen; and/or (d)
its publication in such other manner as required by the General Statutes.
Publication may be made by providing a summary authorized by the Board
of Selectmen. Such summary shall include a statement that the full
official text is available for inspection at the office of the Town
Clerk or, when requested, by mail.
"Special Act" means legislation enacted by the State's
General Assembly which applies to a specific situation or designated
set of circumstances, rather than law having general application.
"Town" means the Town of Canton as a geographical and political
entity and, unless the context indicates otherwise, including all
political subdivisions and agencies, including the Board of Education.
"Town Meeting" means the form of government existing in the
Town of Canton, in which certain authority for administration of the
Town's business is held by the electors/voters of the Town. The
electors/voters convene in a formal meeting and vote on issues in
accordance with the Charter and the General Statutes. When used in
this Charter, the term refers to such duly called meetings of the
electors/voters including the Annual Town Meeting, the Annual Budget
Hearing, and/or a Special Town Meeting.
"Voter" means a natural person entitled to vote at Town Meetings
but not at Town elections as specified in the General Statutes.
