Town of Stratford, CT Charter of the Town of Stratford

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Charter of the Town of Stratford
Ch C Charter of the Town of Stratford
Ch C § 1 The Mayor
§ C-1.1 Election of the Mayor.
§ C-1.2 Duties of the Mayor.
§ C-1.3 Vacancy in the Office of Mayor.
§ C-1.4 Appointments.
§ C-1.5 Coordination.
Ch C § 2 The Council
§ C-2.1.1 Composition and Election.
§ C-2.1.2 Qualification of Council Members.
§ C-2.1.3 Council Meetings.
§ C-2.1.4 Council Rules of Procedure.
§ C-2.1.5 Council Chairman.
§ C-2.1.6 Compensation.
§ C-2.1.7 Council Vacancies.
§ C-2.2.1 Council Powers.
§ C-2.2.2 Council Override Authority.
§ C-2.2.3 Special Funds.
§ C-2.2.4 Bonds.
§ C-2.2.5 Salaries and Wages.
§ C-2.2.6 New Departments or Offices.
§ C-2.2.7 Council Action.
§ C-2.2.8 Ordinances.
§ C-2.2.9 Effective Date of Ordinances and Resolutions.
§ C-2.2.10 Emergency Measures.
§ C-2.2.11 Council Appointments.
§ C-2.2.12 Qualification of Appointee.
§ C-2.2.13 Removal of Appointee.
§ C-2.2.14 Relationship of Council to Administration.
§ C-2.2.15 Power to Investigate and Procure Information.
§ C-2.3.1 Council Clerk.
Ch C § 3 Legal Department
§ C-3.1.1 Town Attorney.
§ C-3.1.2 Assistants to the Town Attorney.
§ C-3.1.3 Duties.
§ C-3.1.4 Legal Assistance.
Ch C § 4 Boards and Commissions
§ C-4.1.1 Board of Assessment Appeals.
§ C-4.1.2 Political affiliation.
§ C-4.1.3 Powers and duties.
§ C-4.1.4 Appeals for Relief.
§ C-4.2.1 Composition of Zoning Commission.
§ C-4.2.2 Powers and Duties of the Zoning Commission.
§ C-4.2.3 Alternate Members of Zoning Commission.
§ C-4.2.4 Vacancy in Zoning Commission.
§ C-4.2.5 Composition of Planning Commission.
§ C-4.2.6 Powers and Duties of the Planning Commission.
§ C-4.2.7 Alternate Members of Planning Commission.
§ C-4.2.8 Vacancy in Elected Planning Commission.
§ C-4.3.1 Composition of Zoning Board of Appeals.
§ C-4.3.2 Powers and Duties of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
§ C-4.3.3 Alternate Members of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
§ C-4.3.4 Vacancy in Zoning Board of Appeals.
§ C-4.4.1 The Board of Education.
§ C-4.4.2 Nomination and Number of Candidates.
§ C-4.4.3 Vacancies in Board of Education.
§ C-4.4.4 Compensation of Members.
§ C-4.4.5 Powers and Duties.
Ch C § 5 Administration
§ C-5.1.1 Chief Administrative Officer.
§ C-5.1.2 Appointment of Chief Administrative Officer.
§ C-5.1.3 Conflicts of Interests.
§ C-5.1.4 Powers and Duties.
§ C-5.2.1 Administrative Departments.
§ C-5.2.2 Directors.
§ C-5.2.3 Qualifications of Directors.
§ C-5.2.4 Appointment of Directors.
§ C-5.2.5 Subordination of Directors.
§ C-5.2.6 Removal from Office of Directors.
§ C-5.2.7 Subordinate Employees.
§ C-5.2.8 Certificate of Appointment.
§ C-5.3.1 Department of Public Works.
§ C-5.3.2 Composition.
§ C-5.4.1 Department of Safety.
§ C-5.4.2 Composition.
§ C-5.4.3 Animal Control Officer.
§ C-5.5.1 Department of Health.
§ C-5.5.2 Composition.
§ C-5.5.3 Director of Health.
§ C-5.6.1 Department of Finance.
§ C-5.6.2 Composition.
§ C-5.6.3 Accounts.
§ C-5.6.4 Purchasing Agent.
§ C-5.6.5 Financial Reports.
§ C-5.6.6 Payments.
§ C-5.6.7 Audit of Accounts.
§ C-5.7 Town Clerk.
§ C-5.7.1 Duties of the Town Clerk.
§ C-5.7.2 Compensation.
§ C-5.8 Matters pertaining to Town Employees.
§ C-5.8.1 Wage and Salary Schedule.
Ch C § 6 Fiscal Policies and Procedures
§ C-6.1.1 Fiscal year.
§ C-6.2.1 Budget.
§ C-6.2.2 Budget Appropriations.
§ C-6.2.3 Appropriation Limits.
§ C-6.2.4 Continued Expenses.
§ C-6.2.5 Transfer of Funds.
§ C-6.2.6 Tax Ordinance.
§ C-6.3.1 Tax Lists.
§ C-6.3.2 Notice.
§ C-6.3.3 Assessment Date.
§ C-6.4 Financing Public Works and Improvements.
§ C-6.4.1 Definitions.
§ C-6.4.2 Notice of Proposed Public Work or Improvements.
§ C-6.4.3 Record Notice of Approval of Proposed Public Improvements.
§ C-6.4.4 Initiation of Public Improvements by Property Owners.
§ C-6.4.5 Contracts for Public Works or Improvements.
§ C-6.4.6 Appraisal of Benefits and Damages.
§ C-6.4.7 Water Pollution Control Authority.
§ C-6.4.8 Appeal.
§ C-6.4.9 Liens and Penalties for Nonpayment.
§ C-6.5.1 Continuing Contracts.
§ C-6.5.2 Bidding for Public Work or Improvement.
§ C-6.5.3 Power of Rejection.
Ch C § 7 Elections
§ C-7.1.1 Town Elections.
§ C-7.1.2 Nomination of Candidates.
§ C-7.1.3 Town Election Districts.
§ C-7.1.4 Provision for Reapportionment of Election Districts.
§ C-7.1.5 Creation, Powers and Duties of the Election District Revision Commission.
§ C-7.1.6 District Change.
§ C-7.2.1 Nomination and Election of State and Federal Officers.
§ C-7.3.1 Registrars of Voters.
Ch C § 8 Powers of the Electorate
§ C-8.1.1 The Recall.
§ C-8.1.2 Recall Action.
§ C-8.1.3 Recall Ballot.
§ C-8.2.1 The Initiative.
§ C-8.2.2 Initiative Petitions.
§ C-8.2.3 Council Action on Initiative Petitions.
§ C-8.2.4 Initiative Election.
§ C-8.2.5 Special Initiative Election.
§ C-8.2.6 Form of Measure.
§ C-8.3.1 The Referendum.
§ C-8.3.2 Referendum Petitions.
§ C-8.3.3 Council Action on Referendum Petitions.
§ C-8.3.4 Status of Measure.
§ C-8.4.1 Form of Petitions.
§ C-8.4.2 Certification of Petitions.
§ C-8.4.3 Notice of Insufficiency.
§ C-8.4.4 Amended Petitions.
§ C-8.5.1 The Measures.
§ C-8.5.2 Number of Measures.
§ C-8.5.3 Measures in Conflict.
§ C-8.5.4 Public Notice of Measures.
Ch C § 9 Miscellaneous Provisions
§ C-9.1.1 Fidelity Bonds.
§ C-9.1.2 Other Officers.
§ C-9.2.1 Public Records.
§ C-9.3.1 Oath of Office.
§ C-9.3.2 Code of Ethics.
§ C-9.4.1 Notice of Publication.
§ C-9.5.1 Effective Date.
§ C-9.6.1 General Repealer.
§ C-9.6.2 Exceptions to Repealer.
§ C-9.7.1 Continuation of Terms of Office or Employment.
§ C-9.8 Retention of Charter Revision Records.
§ C-9.9 Severability.
§ C-9.10 Town Seal.
The Code
Part I, Administrative Legislation
Ch 1 General Provisions
Ch 3 (Reserved)
Ch 5 Boards, Commissions and Agencies
Ch 6 Citation Hearings, Office of
Ch 7 Committees
Ch 8 Contracts
Ch 11 Elections
Ch 12 Eminent Domain
Ch 13 Energy Management Services
Ch 14 Finances
Ch 15 Fiscal Year
Ch 17 Justices of the Peace
Ch 22 Officers and Employees
Ch 25 Personnel Policies
Ch 27 Recognition of Individuals
Ch 29 Regional Planning
Ch 30 Registrars of Voters
Ch 32 Terms of Office
Ch 33 Town Council
Ch 35 Town Property, Sale of
Ch 38 Volunteer Fire Companies
Ch 39 Water Pollution Control Authority
Ch 40 Web Site
Part II, General Legislation
Ch 42 Adult-Oriented Establishments
Ch 44 Air Pollution
Ch 45 Airport Zoning
Ch 46 Alarm Devices
Ch 47 Alcoholic Beverages
Ch 48 All-Terrain Vehicles
Ch 49 Amusements and Amusement Devices
Ch 52 Auctions and Auctioneers
Ch 55 Barbershops, Hairdressing and Cosmetology Shops
Ch 58 Bingo and Other Games of Chance
Ch 59 Body-Piercing and Tattoo Establishments
Ch 60 Vessel-Launching Facilities
Ch 62 Building Construction
Ch 80 Defibrillators
Ch 83 Dogs and Other Animals
Ch 88 EMS Funding
Ch 93 Explosives
Ch 102 Flood Damage Prevention
Ch 105 Food-Handling Establishments
Ch 108 (Reserved)
Ch 110 Gas-Burning Appliances
Ch 112 Greenway Improvement
Ch 113 Groundwater and Vapor Intrusion Zones
Ch 114 Harbor Management Area
Ch 116 Hawkers, Peddlers and Solicitors
Ch 118 Hazardous Wastes, Transport of
Ch 120 Health Regulations
Ch 121 Historic District
Ch 123 Housing Standards
Ch 133 Littering
Ch 135 Massage Parlors
Ch 137 Milk and Milk Products
Ch 139 Natural Gas and Oil Extraction
Ch 140 Newspapers
Ch 142 Noise
Ch 143 Nuclear Free Zone
Ch 144 Numbering of Buildings
Ch 147 Obscenity
Ch 152 Parks and Beaches
Ch 153 Pawnbrokers
Ch 154 Peace and Good Order
Ch 159 Property, Lost and Unclaimed
Ch 161 Property Maintenance
Ch 165 Recycling
Ch 172 Sewers
Ch 175 Shellfish
Ch 178 Skateboards
Ch 182 Solid Waste
Ch 186 Streets and Sidewalks
Ch 188 Swimming Pools
Ch 191 Taxation
Ch 196 Tow Trucks
Ch 198 Trailers
Ch 200 Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vegetation
Ch 202 Vehicles, Abandoned
Ch 203 Vehicles and Traffic
Ch 205 Vehicles, Removal of
Ch 209 Water
Ch 210 Waterfront and Harbor Management
Ch 212 Weapons
Ch 214 Weeds
Ch 217 Wetlands and Watercourses
Appendix
Ch A220 Zoning
Ch A221 Subdivision of Land
Ch A222 Special Laws
Disposition List
Ch DL Disposition List

Public Documents

Chapter C Charter of the Town of Stratford

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[HISTORY: Adopted by referendum 11-4-2003.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]

PREFACE

Form of Government.

The municipal government provided by this Charter shall be known as the "Mayor Council Government." An elected Mayor shall be the chief executive officer of the Town. All the legislative powers of the Town shall be vested in an elective Council, hereinafter referred to as the "Council." In addition to the powers hereinafter specifically set forth, the Mayor and Council shall have all the powers granted to municipal corporations by the Constitution and General Statutes of the State of Connecticut, and all implied powers necessary to carry into execution the powers hereinafter set forth and the powers granted to municipal corporations by the Constitution and General Statutes of the State of Connecticut, subject only to the limitations imposed by this Charter and by the Constitution and General Statutes of the State of Connecticut.

All powers of the Mayor and Council shall be exercised by them in the manner prescribed in this Charter, or as otherwise provided by law. [Amended 11-4-2008]

Editor's Note: This Charter, which has an effective date of 12-12-2005, replaced the former Charter approved 7-16-1964 by Stratford Town Council, as amended.

SECTION 1 The Mayor

§ 1.1 Election of the Mayor.

§ 1.2 Duties of the Mayor.

§ 1.3 Vacancy in the Office of Mayor.

§ 1.4 Appointments.

§ 1.5 Coordination.

SECTION 2 The Council

§ 2.1.1 Composition and Election.

§ 2.1.2 Qualification of Council Members.

§ 2.1.3 Council Meetings.

§ 2.1.4 Council Rules of Procedure.

§ 2.1.5 Council Chairman.

§ 2.1.6 Compensation.

§ 2.1.7 Council Vacancies.

§ 2.2.1 Council Powers.

§ 2.2.2 Council Override Authority.

§ 2.2.3 Special Funds.

§ 2.2.4 Bonds.

§ 2.2.5 Salaries and Wages.

§ 2.2.6 New Departments or Offices.

§ 2.2.7 Council Action.

§ 2.2.8 Ordinances.

§ 2.2.9 Effective Date of Ordinances and Resolutions.

§ 2.2.10 Emergency Measures.

§ 2.2.11 Council Appointments.

§ 2.2.12 Qualification of Appointee.

§ 2.2.13 Removal of Appointee.

§ 2.2.14 Relationship of Council to Administration.

§ 2.2.15 Power to Investigate and Procure Information.

§ 2.3.1 Council Clerk.

SECTION 3 Legal Department

§ 3.1.1 Town Attorney.

§ 3.1.2 Assistants to the Town Attorney.

§ 3.1.3 Duties.

§ 3.1.4 Legal Assistance.

SECTION 4 Boards and Commissions

§ 4.1.1 Board of Assessment Appeals.

§ 4.1.2 Political affiliation.

§ 4.1.3 Powers and duties.

§ 4.1.4 Appeals for Relief.

§ 4.2.1 Composition of Zoning Commission.

§ 4.2.2 Powers and Duties of the Zoning Commission.

§ 4.2.3 Alternate Members of Zoning Commission.

§ 4.2.4 Vacancy in Zoning Commission.

§ 4.2.5 Composition of Planning Commission.

§ 4.2.6 Powers and Duties of the Planning Commission.

§ 4.2.7 Alternate Members of Planning Commission.

§ 4.2.8 Vacancy in Elected Planning Commission.

§ 4.3.1 Composition of Zoning Board of Appeals.

§ 4.3.2 Powers and Duties of the Zoning Board of Appeals.

§ 4.3.3 Alternate Members of the Zoning Board of Appeals.

§ 4.3.4 Vacancy in Zoning Board of Appeals.

§ 4.4.1 The Board of Education.

§ 4.4.2 Nomination and Number of Candidates.

§ 4.4.3 Vacancies in Board of Education.

§ 4.4.4 Compensation of Members.

§ 4.4.5 Powers and Duties.

SECTION 5 Administration

§ 5.1.1 Chief Administrative Officer.

§ 5.1.2 Appointment of Chief Administrative Officer.

§ 5.1.3 Conflicts of Interests.

§ 5.1.4 Powers and Duties.

§ 5.2.1 Administrative Departments.

§ 5.2.2 Directors.

§ 5.2.3 Qualifications of Directors.

§ 5.2.4 Appointment of Directors.

§ 5.2.5 Subordination of Directors.

§ 5.2.6 Removal from Office of Directors.

§ 5.2.7 Subordinate Employees.

§ 5.2.8 Certificate of Appointment.

§ 5.3.1 Department of Public Works.

§ 5.3.2 Composition.

§ 5.4.1 Department of Safety.

§ 5.4.2 Composition.

§ 5.4.3 Animal Control Officer.

§ 5.5.1 Department of Health.

§ 5.5.2 Composition.

§ 5.5.3 Director of Health.

§ 5.6.1 Department of Finance.

§ 5.6.2 Composition.

§ 5.6.3 Accounts.

§ 5.6.4 Purchasing Agent.

§ 5.6.5 Financial Reports.

§ 5.6.6 Payments.

§ 5.6.7 Audit of Accounts.

§ 5.7 Town Clerk.

§ 5.7.1 Duties of the Town Clerk.

§ 5.7.2 Compensation.

§ 5.8 Matters pertaining to Town Employees.

§ 5.8.1 Wage and Salary Schedule.

SECTION 6 Fiscal Policies and Procedures

§ 6.1.1 Fiscal year.

§ 6.2.1 Budget.

§ 6.2.2 Budget Appropriations.

§ 6.2.3 Appropriation Limits.

§ 6.2.4 Continued Expenses.

§ 6.2.5 Transfer of Funds.

§ 6.2.6 Tax Ordinance.

§ 6.3.1 Tax Lists.

§ 6.3.2 Notice.

§ 6.3.3 Assessment Date.

§ 6.4 Financing Public Works and Improvements.

§ 6.4.1 Definitions.

§ 6.4.2 Notice of Proposed Public Work or Improvements.

§ 6.4.3 Record Notice of Approval of Proposed Public Improvements.

§ 6.4.4 Initiation of Public Improvements by Property Owners.

§ 6.4.5 Contracts for Public Works or Improvements.

§ 6.4.6 Appraisal of Benefits and Damages.

§ 6.4.7 Water Pollution Control Authority.

§ 6.4.8 Appeal.

§ 6.4.9 Liens and Penalties for Nonpayment.

§ 6.5.1 Continuing Contracts.

§ 6.5.2 Bidding for Public Work or Improvement.

§ 6.5.3 Power of Rejection.

SECTION 7 Elections

§ 7.1.1 Town Elections.

§ 7.1.2 Nomination of Candidates.

§ 7.1.3 Town Election Districts.

§ 7.1.4 Provision for Reapportionment of Election Districts.

§ 7.1.5 Creation, Powers and Duties of the Election District Revision Commission.

§ 7.1.6 District Change.

§ 7.2.1 Nomination and Election of State and Federal Officers.

§ 7.3.1 Registrars of Voters.

SECTION 8 Powers of the Electorate

§ 8.1.1 The Recall.

§ 8.1.2 Recall Action.

§ 8.1.3 Recall Ballot.

§ 8.2.1 The Initiative.

§ 8.2.2 Initiative Petitions.

§ 8.2.3 Council Action on Initiative Petitions.

§ 8.2.4 Initiative Election.

§ 8.2.5 Special Initiative Election.

§ 8.2.6 Form of Measure.

§ 8.3.1 The Referendum.

§ 8.3.2 Referendum Petitions.

§ 8.3.3 Council Action on Referendum Petitions.

§ 8.3.4 Status of Measure.

§ 8.4.1 Form of Petitions.

§ 8.4.2 Certification of Petitions.

§ 8.4.3 Notice of Insufficiency.

§ 8.4.4 Amended Petitions.

§ 8.5.1 The Measures.

§ 8.5.2 Number of Measures.

§ 8.5.3 Measures in Conflict.

§ 8.5.4 Public Notice of Measures.

SECTION 9 Miscellaneous Provisions

§ 9.1.1 Fidelity Bonds.

§ 9.1.2 Other Officers.

§ 9.2.1 Public Records.

§ 9.3.1 Oath of Office.

§ 9.3.2 Code of Ethics.

§ 9.4.1 Notice of Publication.

§ 9.5.1 Effective Date.

§ 9.6.1 General Repealer.

§ 9.6.2 Exceptions to Repealer.

§ 9.7.1 Continuation of Terms of Office or Employment.

§ 9.8 Retention of Charter Revision Records.

§ 9.9 Severability.

§ 9.10 Town Seal.