The fiscal year of the Town shall commence July
first of each year and expire the thirtieth day of June next succeeding. [Ed. Note: change made to conform to Connecticut General Statutes]
[Amended 11-4-2008]
Not later than March 12, the Mayor shall prepare
and submit to the Council an annual budget for the ensuing fiscal
year based upon detailed estimates furnished by the several departments
and other divisions of the town government, according to a classification
as nearly uniform as possible. The budget shall present the following
information: (a) An itemized statement of the appropriations recommended
by the Mayor for current expenses and for permanent improvements for
each department and each division thereof for the ensuing fiscal year
with comparative statements in parallel columns of the appropriations
and expenditures for the current and next preceding fiscal year, and
the increases and decreases in the appropriations recommended; (b)
an itemized statement of the taxes required and of the estimated revenues
of the town from all other sources for the ensuing fiscal year, with
comparative statements in parallel columns of the taxes and other
revenues for the current and next preceding fiscal year, and of the
increases or decreases estimated or proposed; (c) a statement of the
financial condition of the town; and (d) such other information as
may be required by the Council. Copies of the budget shall be printed
and available for distribution not later than two (2) weeks after
its submission to the Council, and a public hearing shall be given
thereon by the Council or a committee thereof before action by the
Council.
[Amended 11-4-2008]
The Council shall annually pass an appropriation
ordinance not later than May 12, which ordinance shall be based upon
a budget submitted by the Mayor. The appropriations made in such ordinance
and the budget submitted by the Mayor shall provide for the full fiscal
year of the Town.
The total amount of appropriations shall not
exceed the estimated revenues of the Town.
[Amended 11-4-2008]
In the event an annual appropriation ordinance
has not been passed by the commencement of the fiscal year, the Council,
with the approval in writing of the Mayor, shall make appropriations
for current departmental expenses, chargeable to the appropriations
of the year when passed, to an amount sufficient to cover the necessary
expenses of the various departments until the annual appropriation
is in force. No other liabilities shall be incurred by any employee
of the Town except in accordance with the provisions of the previous
year's appropriation ordinance or under continuing contracts and loans
authorized under the provisions of this charter.
At any meeting and after at least one week's
public notice, the Council, by an affirmative vote of seven (7) members
may authorize the transfer of unused balances appropriated for one
purpose to another purpose, or to appropriate available revenues not
included in the annual budget.
[Amended 11-4-2008]
Upon the adoption of a budget, the Council shall,
by ordinance, levy such tax as may be necessary to meet the appropriations
made (less the estimated amount of revenue from other sources) and
all sums required by law to be raised on account of the Town debt,
together with such additional funds as may be required by the Town
budget, and shall prescribe the manner and time for payment.
The tax lists filed during the month of October
with the assessing authority shall constitute the tax list for assessment
to meet the town expenses for the next fiscal year.
[Amended 11-4-2008]
The Tax Assessor of the Town of Stratford shall,
on or before the first day of October, annually, post in the tax Assessor's
office and publish in one or more newspapers having a circulation
in said Town a notice requiring all persons liable to pay taxes to
bring in written or printed lists of the taxable property belonging
to them on the first day of October in that year.
[Amended 11-4-2008[1]]
The assessment date in the Town of Stratford
shall be the first day of October in each year. All persons required
by the General Statutes to file lists of personal property subject
to taxation with the Tax Assessor shall file such lists not later
than the first day of November in each year, or, if such thy shall
occur on Sunday, then on the next business day following. All personal
property required by the General Statutes to be listed with the Tax
Assessor for purposes of taxation shall be included in such lists.
[1]
Editor's Note: This amendment also repealed
former §§ 6.3.4, Power of Assessing Authority, 6.3.5,
Notice of Summons, and 6.3.6, Failure to Comply.
[Amended 11-4-2008]
As used in §§ 6.4.2 to 6.4.9, inclusive, the term "public work or improvement" shall include any of the following, or any combination of the following: the laying out, construction, alteration, widening, straightening, grading, improving or repairing of any street, alley or other public way; the laying out, construction, alteration, improvement or repairing of any curb, gutter, sidewalk, or storm sewer over, upon, adjacent to or under any street, alley or other public way, and the laying out, construction, alteration, extension, enlargement and repairing of the sanitary sewerage system and sewage disposal plant of the town. The term "Council" shall include any agency, committee or commission empowered by the Town Council to act in such matter. The terms "property" and "property affected thereby" shall include all land, with or without improvements thereon, and all other property of any kind or nature, damaged or benefited as an incident to any public work or improvement, the owners of which may be assessed to pay for such public work or improvement or the owners of which may be paid damages for the taking or damaging thereof.
Before any public work or improvement shall
be undertaken, the Council shall give notice to all persons whose
property will be affected thereby that such public work or improvement
is proposed to be undertaken. Such notice shall be signed by the Town
Clerk, shall describe in general terms the nature of the public work
or improvement to be undertaken and shall specify a time and place
when all persons whose property is to be affected thereby may appear
and be heard in relation thereto. Such notice shall be filed in the
Office of the Town Clerk, and he or she shall cause it to be published
twice, the last time at least five (5) days before the date of hearing
in some newspaper having a circulation in the Town.
If at the hearing upon such proposal, it is
decided or determined that the proposed public work or improvement
shall be undertaken, the Council shall, within ten (10) days of the
date of such decision or determination, cause to be recorded in the
land records of the town a certificate describing the proposed public
work or improvement. Said certificate shall list the names of the
owners of property to be affected thereby and shall state the date
of the final decision or determination that such public work or improvement
shall be undertaken. Such certificate shall be signed by the Council
Chairman or the presiding officer of the agency, committee or commission
to which such authority may be delegated. Said certificate shall be
indexed in the general index to the land records under the name of
each owner of property to be affected thereby.
Upon the written petition of the owners of at least 51% of the property, determined by the last completed assessment list, on any street, alley, or other public way, or on such part thereof as will be affected in the town, requesting the Council to undertake a public improvement on such street, alley or other public way, the Council shall hold a hearing thereon within a reasonable time and shall give the same notice of such hearing as is provided by § 6.4.2. At the time and place specified in such notice or at any meeting adjourned therefrom, the Council shall hear all parties in interest who may appear or desire to be heard in relation thereto and shall thereafter determine what action shall be taken with respect to said petition. If it is decided or determined that such public work or improvement shall be undertaken, a certificate of the type described in § 6.4.3. shall be prepared and recorded within ten (10) days of the date of such decision or determination.
If, after any hearing held pursuant to the provisions of § 6.4.3 or 6.4.4, the Council shall decide or determine to undertake a public work or improvement, it may order such public work or improvement to be done by town employees or others and shall have the power to enter into a contract or contracts for the labor and materials necessary to undertake and complete such public work or improvement, and shall have the power to assess the cost of such public work or improvement in such proportion as it shall determine wholly or partially upon the town, which portion shall be paid out of the treasury of the town, or wholly or partially upon the property owners benefited by such public work or improvement, or both, and there may be added to assessments which are for laying out, constructing, altering, extending, enlarging or repairing the sanitary sewerage system or sewerage disposal plant an additional amount or assessment for a fair and equitable part of the cost of any other item of the sewerage system as hereinafter more specifically set forth.
The Council shall appraise all damages resulting
from such public work or improvement of the person or persons damaged
thereby and may assess benefits upon the person or persons benefited
thereby. There may be included as part of such assessment of benefits
or as an additional assessment a proportionate share of the cost of
constructing any lateral sewers, force interceptor sewers, trunk sewers
or any other sewer through which any sewage is to be collected, transported
or discharged, the cost of constructing any disposal works, purification,
plant, filtration beds, pumping apparatus, flush tanks, outfall sewers
and appurtenances thereof and any expenses incidental to the completion
of such work, such as fees and expenses of attorneys, engineers, surveyors,
superintendents or inspectors, the cost of any property or easement
thereon purchased or acquired for such work, interest or securities,
the cost of preparing maps, plans and specifications, and the cost
of printing, publishing or serving advertisements or notices, shall
be incidental to the completion of the work. The Council may rescind
any action it may have taken hereunder, which rescinding action may
be taken prior to, during or subsequent to completion of any appeal
to court from the appraisal of damages or assessments of benefits.
Notice: Before making any appraisal of benefits or damages or both,
notice shall be given to the owners of property affected thereby of
a time and place when and where a meeting will be held for that purpose.
Such notice shall be either written or printed and signed in writing
or printing by the Town Clerk, who may cause it to be personally served
or left on at least the fifth day before the date of such hearing
by any person at the usual place of abode of each owner of property
affected by the public work or improvement. Notice may also be given
by the Town Clerk by depositing a copy of such notice with the United
States Postal Service, addressed to such person or persons at his,
her of their last-known place of abode, postage prepaid, on at least
the sixth day before the date set for such hearing. Said notice shall
also be published twice by the Town Clerk in a newspaper having circulation
in Stratford, the last time on at least the fifth day before the date
of such hearing. Hearing: The Council shall meet at the time and place
designated in such notice and at such other times as it may adjourn
to therefrom and shall hear all the parties in interest who may appear
before it. It shall determine which of the owners of land affected
by such public work or improvement will be damaged by such public
work or improvement, and the amount thereof over and above any special
benefits such owners shall receive therefrom, and it shall determine
which of the owners of land affected by such public work or improvement
will be specially benefited therefrom, and the amount thereof over
and above any damages such owners shall receive therefrom. Benefits
assessed shall, in no event, exceed the cost of the public work or
improvements, together with the damages paid by reason thereof, except
in the event there may be added thereto an additional assessment for
a fair and equitable part of the cost and maintenance of trunk line
sewers and of any sewage disposal plant, or any or all of such works,
as hereinabove provided. Notice of assessment: Within 30 days after
the completion of any appraisal of benefits or damages, or both, the
Council shall file with. the Town Clerk a certificate setting forth
the amount of the benefits or damages assessed against or awarded
in favor of the owners of land affected by such public work or improvement,
and shall issue to the tax collector a warrant for the collection
of assessments so made. The Town Clerk shall cause notice of the appraisal
of benefits or damages assessed to be sent to the owners of land affected
by such public work or improvement, by mail addressed to the last-known
place of abode of each owner. [Amended 11-4-2008]
Payment and collection of assessments. The tax
collector shall, within the 60 days of the date of filing of the certificate
described in the subparagraph above, bill each owner of land against
which benefits were assessed for the amount of such assessment. Assessments
of benefits shall be payable sixty (60) days from the date of billing,
except that the Council shall have the power to extend payment of
assessments over a period of years with interest on the unpaid balance
at a rate not exceeding 5% per annum. In the case of unimproved and
undeveloped land a percentage not exceeding 50% of the total assessment
which otherwise would be assessed against the owners of such unimproved
and undeveloped land may be delayed until such land is improved or
developed, or until such other time as is determined by the Council,
and in the case of such delay, the amount originally assessable would
be the amount later assessed. The tax collector shall have the power,
granted by law, to collect such assessments in the same manner as
public taxes are collected.
[Added 11-4-2008[1]]
The Council is authorized to form a Water Pollution
Control Authority in accordance with state law. The Water Pollution
Control Authority shall have all powers provided by law.
[1]
Editor's Note: This amendment also repealed
former § 6.4.7, Connecting to Sewerage System.
[Amended 11-4-2008[1]]
Any person aggrieved by the appraisal of damages
or assessment of benefit, or both, may file an administrative appeal
in the Connecticut Superior Court as provided by law.
[Amended 11-4-2008]
No continuing contract which involves the payment
of money out of the appropriations of more than two (2) years shall
be made for a period of more than ten (10) years, and no such contract
shall be valid unless:
a.
Public notice of the proposed action of the Council
to approve the same shall be given at least two weeks before the same
shall be formally approved by the Council; and
b.
The same shall be approved by affirmative vote of
seven (7) Council Members; or
c.
The same shall be submitted to the electorate at a
regular or special election and adopted by the affirmative vote of
a majority of the electors voting at such regular or special election.
[Amended 11-4-2008]
Any public work or improvement costing more
than seven thousand five hundred ($7,500.00) dollars shall be executed
by contract except where specified work or improvement is authorized
by the council based on detailed estimates submitted by the department
authorized to execute such work or improvement. All contracts for
more than seven thousand five hundred ($7,500.00) dollars, shall be
awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, after public advertisement
and competition, as may be prescribed by ordinance. The Mayor shall
establish reasonable regulations for prefiling sub bids on construction
contracts where it is anticipated that the contracting party shall
subcontract all or a portion of the work to be done.
The Mayor shall have the power to reject all
bids and to advertise again, and all advertisements shall contain
a reservation of this right.
