Chapter 3 - Elective Officers

Section 3-1 - General Powers & Duties

Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, all elective Town officers, boards and commissions shall have the powers and duties prescribed by law.
No individual can hold more than one elected Town position concurrently.

Section 3-2 - Terms of Office

The terms of office of all elective officers, board and commission members shall, except as otherwise provided in this Charter, commence on the second Tuesday following their election, and shall not expire before the election and qualification of their successors.

Section 3-3 - Registrars of Voters

There shall be two Registrars of Voters to be elected in the state election for terms of four years as provided in section 9-189a as amended of the general statutes.

Section 3-4 - Board of Selectmen

At each biennial election there shall be elected a First Selectman or First Selectwoman and four other Selectmen or Selectwomen as members of the Board of Selectmen, all for terms of two years. The conduct of such election shall be governed by the General Statutes except as otherwise specifically provided in this Charter.
The counting of votes cast for the office of First Selectman shall be governed by the General Statutes Section 9-188, and votes cast for any unsuccessful candidate(s) for the office of First Selectman shall be counted as votes for them as a member of the Board of Selectmen.
As permitted by General Statutes Section 9-188, at each biennial election, each elector shall be entitled to cast votes equal to the number of seats on the Board of Selectmen.

Section 3-5 - Board of Education

The Board of Education shall consist of seven members. At each biennial election, there shall be elected one member for a term of four years to succeed each member whose terms shall expire. The election shall be conducted in accordance with section 9-204b of the General Statutes, the provisions of which are incorporated into this Charter. At each election, each political party shall have the right to nominate as many persons as there are vacancies and each elector may vote for as many persons as there are vacancies.

Section 3-6 - Board of Finance

The Board of Finance shall consist of six members each of whom is elected for a term of four years. At each biennial election there shall be elected one member for a term of four years to succeed each member whose term shall expire.

Section 3-7 - Board of Assessment Appeals

The Board of Assessment Appeals shall consist of three members each of whom is elected for a term of four years. At each biennial election there shall be elected one member for a term of four years to succeed each member whose term shall expire.

Section 3-8 - Zoning Board of Appeals

The Zoning Board of Appeals shall consist of five members each of whom is elected for a term of four years. At each biennial election there shall be elected one member for a term of four years to succeed each member whose term shall expire.
There shall also be a total of three alternate members each of whom is elected for a term of four years. At each biennial election there shall be elected one member for a term of four years to succeed each member whose term shall expire.

Section 3-9 - Planning & Zoning Commission

The Planning and Zoning Commission shall consist of seven members each of whom is elected for a term of four years. There shall also be a total of two alternate members who shall be elected for a term of four years. At each biennial election, there shall be elected one member and one alternate member for a term of four years to succeed each member and each alternate member whose term shall expire.

Section 3-10 - Town Moderator

At each biennial election, there shall be elected a Town Moderator for a term of two years. The Town Moderator shall preside at all Town meetings and shall work with the Board of Selectmen to promote citizen attendance and participation at Town meetings. In the absence of the elected Town Moderator, the Town meeting shall be called to order and be conducted by the First Selectman or First Selectwoman or their representative.

Section 3-11 - Conflict of Interest

Any elected or appointed Town officer, or official, including any member of any Town board or commission, and any Town employee who has a financial interest, direct or indirect, in any contract, transaction or decision of any agency, agent, officer, board or commission of the Town, to which the Town is a party, shall as soon as such financial interests shall appear to them disclose the nature and extent of that interest in writing to the Board of Selectmen which shall record such disclosure upon the official record in the office of the Town Clerk. Any such person does not have a financial interest that is in substantial conflict with the proper discharge of that person’s duties in the public interest, and of the person's responsibilities as prescribed by the this charter and the laws of this state, if any benefit or detriment accrues to the person, (including the person's spouse or dependent child, or a business with which they, their spouse or such dependent child is associated with as a member of a profession, occupation or group) to no greater extent than to any other member of such profession, occupation or group.
Except as noted in Section 7-2, no elected town official may be appointed to or hired for any paid position with the town or may enter into any contract with the town for a period of six (6) months following their last day in office. The restrictions outlined herein are subject to the provisions of section 7-421 of the General Statutes.