The Mayor shall appoint all department heads, including a Chief Administrative Officer, the Economic and Community Development Commission, and all other such appointments to boards, commissions, authorities, agencies and offices as may be required by Charter, ordinance, resolution or General Statute.

(a) The Mayor shall nominate members to boards, commissions, authorities, agencies and offices as may be required by Charter, ordinance, resolution or General Statute. The Mayor shall, within two (2) business days of making the nomination, notify the Town Clerk, the Council Chairman and the Council Clerk, in writing of said nomination. Any person nominated to any such board, commission, authority, agency or office which has the authority , without the consent of the Town Council, to spend any appropriated funds, to enter into an agreement, or to render a final decision on any matter, or which board, commission, authority, agency or office is established pursuant to state or federal law, shall be subject to confirmation by a majority of the members of the Town Council. In the event that Town Council does not vote to confirm or reject the nominee within thirty (30) days of the notification by the Mayor to the Council Chairman, the nominee shall be deemed to have been confirmed.

(b) The Mayor shall nominate members to the Economic and Community Development Commission. The Mayor shall, within two (2) business days of making the nomination, notify the Town Clerk, the Council Chairman and the Council Clerk, in writing of said nomination. All nominees to the Economic and Community Development Commission shall be subject to confirmation by a majority of the members of the Town Council. In the event that Town Council does not vote to confirm or reject the nominee within thirty (30) days of notification of the nomination by the Mayor to the Council Chairman, the nominee shall be deemed to have been confirmed.

(c) The Town Council shall adopt a policy to publicize to the general public all vacancies on all appointed boards, commissions, committees, authorities, agencies or offices and the process for submitting applications .

SECTION 2 The Council

§ 2.1.2. Qualification of Council Members.

The Council shall be the judge of the election and qualification of its members, subject to review by the courts. Any Council Member who, during his/her term of office, shall have been is convicted of a felony shall thereby forfeit his or her office.

§ 2.1.3. Council Meetings.

At eight o'clock p.m., on the second Monday of December following the regular Town election, the Council shall meet at the usual place for holding meetings, at which time the newly elected Council Members shall be sworn and shall assume the duties of their office. Thereafter the Council shall meet in regular session at least monthly at such time and place as may be prescribed by ordinance. Special meetings may be called by the Mayor, Council Chairman or at the written request of any six (6) Council Members. Written notice of such special meeting shall be delivered to each Council Member, or left at his or her usual place of abode no less than 2448 hours before the time of such special meeting. Such notice shall state the purpose of the meeting and the time and place thereof, provided that notice of any special meeting of the Council may be waived by a writing signed by nine (9) Council Members or by oral statement read into the record at any such special meeting. No business other than that set forth in such notice shall be transacted at a special meeting. The meetings of the Council and all sessions of the committees of the Council shall be public, except as otherwise permitted by law. [TOWN ATTORNEY NOTE: The 48-hour notice provision of § 2.1.3 of our Charter regarding special meetings is more restrictive than the Freedom of Information Act. C.G.S. § 1-225 which only requires 24-hour notice.]

§ 2.1.4. Council Rules of Procedure

The Council may determine its rules of procedure, may punish its members for misconduct and may compel attendance of its members. Whenever a regular or special meeting has been called and no quorum shall be present, the Chairman or presiding officer shall, upon request of those present issue a warrant signed by him or her directed to the Chief of the Stratford Police Department, a sheriff of the County of Fairfield, his deputy or a constable of the Town of Stratford to arrest and bring into such meeting the absent Council Members so as to make a quorum. Six (6) Council Members shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from time to time.

§ 2.1.5. Council Chairman.

The Council shall choose one of its members to act, as Council Chairman, but this office shall not deprive such Chairman of his or her vote on any question.

The Council Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Council and shall perform such other duties consistent with his or her office as may be imposed by the Council. The Chairman shall appoint the Chairman of all Committees of the Council. Membership on committees shall be appointed by a majority vote of six (6) Council Members. The Council shall also choose one of its members to act as Council Chairman Pro Tempore.

The Council Chairman Pro Tempore shall preside at all meetings in the absence of the Council Chairman. In the event the Council Chairman has vacated his office, the Chairman Pro Tempore shall serve as Chairman until the next regularly scheduled Town Council meeting, at which time the Council shall choose a new Council Chairman.

§ 2.1.6. Compensation.

The members of the Council and the Council Chairman shall serve without compensation, except for the reimbursement of actual expenses incurred in the performance of his or her official duties with prior authorization and approval of expenses, either by receipt or written explanation of theeTown Council or a designated Council Committee.

§ 2.1.7. Council Vacancies.

Any vacancy in the office of a district Council Member occurring less than one (1) year prior to the next regular municipal election shall be filled by the Council for the unexpired portion of the term from the electors of the district in which the vacancy occurred and from the same political party as the Council Member whose office is vacated. If any district Council Member shall not be affiliated with a political party and shall vacate his or her office within the time period mentioned above, such vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term by majority vote of the remaining Council Members from the list of unaffiliated voters of the Town or of a particular district.

If any vacancy occurs in the office of a district Council Member not less than one (1) or more years prior to the next regular municipal election, a special election shall be convened by the Council to fill such vacancy in conformity with the law of the State of Connecticutprovisions of Connecticut General Statutes, Sec. 9-164b.

§ 2.2.1. Council Powers.

The Council shall have the power to make, alter and repeal ordersresolutions and ordinances (a) relative to the regulation of the various departments; (b) relative to the acquisition, of real or personal property, within and without the Town by purchase, gift, devise, condemnation, lease, contract or otherwise; (c) relative to the sale, leasing, management, improvement and control of such property; (d) relative to the levy and collection of assessments for local improvements upon property benefited thereby; (e) relative to the appropriation of the moneys of the Town funds, including the transfer of funds between departments; (f) relative to the making and enforcement of police, sanitary and other similar regulations; (g) rela­tive to the definition, abatement, suppression and prevention within the Town of all nuisances and causes thereof, and all things detrimental to the health, morals, safety, convenience and welfare of its inhabitants; (h) relative to the preservation of the public peace and good order and the suppression of vice and crime within the Town; (i) relative to licenses and license fees for, and the prohibition or regulation of, peddling or vending of merchandise or any article of trade, within the streets and other public places of the Town; j) relative to the regulation of animals through the streets; (k) relative to the regulation of the construction, reconstruction, materials, location, height, maintenance, use and occupancy of buildings; (l) relative to public entertainments and amusement for the people of the Town; (m) relative to establishing, laying out, constructing, widening, straightening, extending, grading, improving, maintaining and vacat­ing streets, alleys and other public ways and to the establishment, improvement, maintenance and vacating of parks, public places and grounds of all kinds; (n) relative to the establishment of building lines on the lands abutting on any street, highway or public place between which lines and any street, highway or public place no building or part thereof shall be erected; (o) relative to the creation, provision for, construction, regulation and maintenance of all things in the nature of public works and improvements; (p) relative to the making of regulations concerning wharfs, channels, docks, wharf lines, bulkhead lines and the anchorage and mooring of vessels; (q) relative to the establishment of public bath houses and bathing beaches; (r) relative to the regulation or prohibition of the excavation, alteration or opening up of streets, sidewalks, highways, public places and grounds and the leaving upon, above or under the surface thereof, whether temporarily or permanently, any work, material or things, and the regulation or prohibition of the removal of buildings upon or through the streets or other public places of the Town; (s) relative to the requirement of owners of land adjacent to any sidewalk or public work to remove rubbish, snow, ice or sleet therefrom, and, upon their failure to do so, to causing such rubbish, snow, ice or sleet to be removed and the expenses thereof to be made a debt to the Town and added to the tax bill of the owner of such land next to be made out and to holding such land for the payment thereof in the same manner as for the remainder of such tax bill; (t) relative to making owners or tenants of lands adjacent to any sidewalk liable to reimburse the Town for any money expended by the Town in paying damages for personal injuries or injury to property caused by a defect in such sidewalk arising by reason of any rubbish thereon, or the failure of such tenant and property owner, or either, to properly remove any snow, ice or sleet from such sidewalk or to use reasonable care in protecting the public from suffering injuries or damages thereon by reason of any such rubbish, snow, ice or sleet and (u) relative to the naming of all public streets, highways, and lanes.

§ 2.2.2. Council Override Authority.

If t

If the he Mayor shall veto the annual budget appropriation ordinance, or any portion thereof, the Council may, within fourteen (14) days following said veto, override the Mayor’s veto by the affirmative vote of seven (7) members. If the Mayor shall veto any other ordinance,resolution, ordinance or any portion thereof passed by the Council, the Council may, the Council may, at any time from the date of the veto, up to and including the close of business at its nextat the next regular meeting following said veto, override the Mayor's veto by the affirmative vote of seven (7) members of the Council.

§ 2.2.5. Salaries and Wages.

The Council shall fix the salaries of the Mayor and of all Council or Mayoral appointees. Prior to the first day of July during the year in which the regular election of the Mayor is held, the Council shall approve by ordinance a salary for the Mayor, to be effective with the commencement of the Mayoral term next following the election. The Mayor’s salary shall not be subject to any further interim increase or decrease during said term of office. The Council shall further have the power to approve or disapprove wage and salary schedules recommended by the Mayor for administrative department employees. The Mayor's salary shall not be subject to any interim increase or decrease during the current term of office.

§ 2.2.8. Ordinances.

No ordinance shall be passed until it has been read at two (2) separate meetings or unless such readings are dispensed with by a vote of seven (7) members of the Council. The final reading shall be in full, unless the measure shall have been printed or typewritten and a copy thereof furnished to each member prior to such reading.

15. The yeasayes and naysnoes shall be taken upon the passage of all ordinances or resolutions and entered upon the recordjournal of the proceedings of the Council, and every ordinance or resolution shall require, foron final passage, the affirmative vote of six (6) Council Members  or, in the event of a tie vote of 5-5, the affirmative vote of five (5) Council members and the Mayor. No member shall be excused from voting, except on matters involving a conflict of interest.the consideration of his or her own official conduct or where his or her financial interests are involved. Provisions may be made for the printing and publication in full of every ordinance within ten (10) days after its final passage. The Town Clerk shall preserve as a public record, open to the inspection of the public at all reasonable times a true copy of each ordinance and resolution so passed.

§ 2.2.9. Effective Date of Ordinances and Resolutions, Orders and Votes.

Resolutions, orders or votes passed by the Council shall become effective immediately upon passage unless an effective date is specifically stated herein but no ordinance shall go into effect until thirty (30) days after its approvalpassage unless it be declared an emergency measure on the ground of an urgent public need for the preservation of peace, health, safety or property the facts showing such urgency and need being specifically stated in the ordinance itself and the ordinance being passed by an affirmative vote of not less than seven (7) members of the Council, except that an ordinance approved pursuant to §§ 6.2.2 and 6.2.6 of this Charter shall be effective on July 1^st next following the adoption and approval of the ordinances unless such ordinances are adopted after July 1^st then such ordinances shall be effective on the date the Mayor approves the ordinances, or the day following the expiration of the Mayor’s right to veto said ordinances, or upon the override of the Mayor’s veto by the Town Council, whichever is earlier. Failure of the Mayor to sign or veto any ordinance within such time as is required by this Charter shall constitute an approval of such ordinance. Failure of the Mayor to sign any ordinance within such thirty (30) days shall constitute a veto of such ordinance. No ordinance shall go into effect unless signed by the Mayor, deemed approved pursuant to the provisions of this Section, or passed over his or her veto by an affirmative vote of not less than seven (7) members of the Council.

§ 2.2.11. Council Appointments.

The Council shall appoint a Council Clerk, a Board of Assessment AppealsTax Review, and shall fill by appointment, all vacancies arising in the membership of the Library Board other than life memberships. The Council shall make all other such appointments to boards, authorities, agencies, committees and offices as may be required by Charter, ordinance, resolution or General Statutes, except as otherwise provided by this Charter.

§ 2.2.14. Relationship of Council to Administration.

The power to appoint persons to public office or employment, granted to the Mayor by this Charter, shall be exercised solely and exclusively by him or her. Neither the Council nor any of its members, either publicly or privately, shall dictate, or attempt to dictate, the appointment of any person to public office or employment, the power to appoint which is granted to the Mayor.

Any violation of this section by a Council Member shall be cause for his or her removal from office after a hearing before the Council and the affirmative vote of eight (8) members of the Council.

Nothing herein, shall be construed to deny to the Council or its members the right to make inquiries of the Mayor or his or her subordinates.

§ 2.2.15. Power of Investigationto Investigate and Procure Information.

The Council, the Mayor and any officer or board authorized by them or either of them, shall have the power to investigate town affairs, to subpoena witnesses, administer oaths and compel the production of books and papers. In exercis ing this power, the Council shall have the power to require any town elected or appointed official, officer, director, department head, or employee to furnish the Council or its designee all information, contracts, reports, papers, documents, records, or other material which is in the possession of the elected or appointed official, officer, director, department head, or employee, and which, in the opinion of the Council is necessary to enable the Council to discharge the duties imposed upon it by this Charter, or to properly and completely investigate town affairs. It is hereby made a duty and obligation of all town elected or appointed officials, officers, directors, department heads, and employees to provide the Council with the requested information, contracts, reports, papers, documents, records, or other material when so required by the Council. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Charter, the Council shall have the right to appropriate funds, either by way of the budget or by special appropriation , to fund any costs and expenses which may, in the opinion of the Council, be necessary, proper and required to conduct the investigation or to procure any information, contracts, reports, papers, documents, records, or other material.

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SECTION 3 Legal DDepartment

§ 3.1.1. Town Attorney.

(a) The Mayor shall, within thirty days of taking office, nominate appoint a Town Attorney who shall be admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut for a period of not less than five (5) years.

The Mayor shall, within two (2) business days of making the nomination, notify the Town Clerk, the Council Chairman, and the Council Clerk, in writing, of said nomination. Not later than thirty (30) days following receipt of the notice of nomination by the Council Chairman, the Town Council may, by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the entire membership, vote to reject the nomination. In the event the Town Co u ncil fails to act, or fails to reject the nomination, the nomination shall be deemed approved. In the event the nomination is rejected, the Mayor may appoint an acting Town Attorney, but in no event shall the person serve in the position for a period of time in excess of ninet y (90) calendar days. The Mayor shall, within said ninety (90) days, following the disapproval by the Town Council of the appointment, nominate a Town Attorney, subject to the disapproval provisions of this S ection. Said nominee may be the same person previously submitted, but said person shall not be submitted for approval more than twice.

(b). The Town Attorney may be removed by the Mayor for any reason at any time. If the Mayor shall remove the Town Attorney, the Mayor shall, within twenty-four hours of removing the Town Attorney, notify the Town Clerk, the Council Chairman and the Council Clerk of such removal and shall also notify the Town Clerk, the Council Chairman and the Council Clerk of the attorney who has been named as acting Town Attorney. The Mayor shall, within thirty (30) days of removing the Town Att o rney, nominate a Town Attorney, whose nomination shall be subject to the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section. hold office at the pleasure of the Mayor. The Town Attorney shall be compensated in a manner and in an amount approved by the Town Council , the amount of which shall be set by the Council .

§ 3.1.2. Assistants to the Town Attorney.

The Town Attorney shall appoint assistant Town Attorney(s) as required to deal with the workload of his or her office. Assistants to the Town Attorney shall be compensated in a manner and in an amount approved by the Town Council, the amount of which shall be set by the Council.

§ 3.1.3. Duties.

The Town Attorney shall be the chief legal advisor of all offices, departments and agencies and of all officers and employees in matters relating to their official powers and duties. The Town AttorneyHe or she shall represent the Town in all legal proceedings. The Town Attorney shall perform all services incident to his or her position as may be required by the General Statutes, by this Charter or by ordinance.

SECTION 4

Boards and Commissions

§ 4.1.1. Board of Assessment AppealsTax Review.

There shall be a Board of Assessment AppealsTax Review consisting of three (3) electors of the town appointed by the Council, each to serve for a term of three (3) years from the first Monday of the January next succeeding the date of his or her appointment, one of whom shall be appointed each year.

§ 4.1.2. Political affiliation.

No more than two (2) members of the Board of Assessment AppealsTax Review shall be registered members of the same political party at the time of their appointment.

§ 4.1.3. Powers and duties.

The Board of Assessment AppealsTax Review shall exercise all the powers and perform the duties conferred upon Boards of Assessment AppealsTax Review by the General Statutes. [TOWN ATTORNEY NOTE: Please refer to Connecticut General Statutes §12-111 and Connecticut General Statutes §12-117a]

§ 4.1.4. Appeals for Relief.

In February of each yea r t T he meetings of the Board of Assessment AppealsTax Review shall consider appeals for relief from assessments on the tax lists filed the preceding October in a time and manner as set forth by state law.

§ 4.4.2. Nomination and Number of Candidates.

Candidates for election to the Board of Education shall be nominated in the manner provided by the General Statutes, except that any elector who is not registered on the primary list of a political party shall be entitled to have his or her name placed on the ballot without party affiliation as a candidate for election to the Board of Education by filing with the Town Clerk, within the time providedlimited by Chapter 153 of the General Statutes, a nominating petition in the form prescribed by Chapter 153 of the General Statutes, which petition shall be signed by at least one-half of one percent of the total number of electors who were entitled to cast their votes at the last preceding election.

Notwithstanding the provisions of any General Statute to the contrary, any elector may vote for all the number of members to be elected and the persons receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected, except that when the number of members of any one political party who would be elected with regard to Section 9-167 a of the Connecticut General Statutes pertaining to minority representation exceeds the maximum number as determined by said section, then only the candidates of such political party with the highest number of votes up to the limit of such maximum, shall be elected. The next highest-ranking candidates, not from such political party, shall be elected, up to the number of places to be filled in such election. Each political party shall nominate as many persons as there are vacancies on the board and those names shall be placed on tthe ballot. (Amend. of 11-3-87) [TOWN ATTORNEY NOTE: SEE Connecticut GeneralStatutes § 9-204 and Connecticut General Statutes § 9-167a]

§ 5.1.1. Chief Administrative Officer.

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) shall be the chief administrative officer of the Town. As such, he or she shall possess, have and exercise the executive and administrative powers as directed by the Mayor or Acting Mayor vested in the Town , except as otherwisedirected by the Mayor and limited by this Charter, state law and/or federal law.

§ 5.1.2. Appointment of Chief Administrative Officer.

The CAO shall be appointed and may be removed or suspended, with or without pay, by the Mayor. The minimum qualifications of the CAO shall be a Master of Business Administration degree,(MBA) or Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree, or such other education, general executive and administrative experience and ability as are necessary eded to perform the duties of the office. The CAO shall be appointed on the basis of such factors including, but not limited to, education, municipal and public experience, professional training, and executive and administrative qualifications, and shall be considered an “at will” employee.

§ 5.2.2. Directors of Departments.

The Fire Chief, Chief of Police, Administrator of Emergency M edical Services, Human R esources director and At the heads of each administrative department there shall be a director, or the CAO may serve as a director of any or all departments until such time as a director is deemed necessary, unless otherwise precluded by law.

§ 5.2.7. Subordinate EmployeesOfficers.

The Mayor shall appoint a health officer, a dog warden, a deputy dog wardenan animal control officer, a tax collector, a treasurer, and an assessor and may appoint one or two assistant assessors, all of whom shall be officers employees of the Town. They shall have all the powers conferred and perform all of the duties imposed upon them by the General Statutes except so far as such powers and duties may be inconsistent with this Charter.

§ 5.2.8. Certificate of Appointment.

A certificate of the appointment of each director and each subordinate employeeofficer signed by the Mayor shall be filed with the Town Clerk and recorded in the records of the Council.

§ 5.4.1. Department of Safety.

The Director of Safety shall exercise all the powers and perform all the duties necessary for the administration of the department of safety. The department of safety shall be concerned with (a) police protection of the town, its citizens, and their individual and collective property; (b) the extinguishing and prevention of fire; (c) emergency medical services; (cd) maintenance of all equipment entrusted to its charge; (de) maintenance of disaster and emergency facilities; (ef) instruction of all townspeople in matters of safety and fire prevention; (gf) the enforcement of all penal statutes of the state and ordinances of the town; (hg) the control of stray dogs; (hi) such other and further matters as prescribed by the statutes of the state of Connecticut and local ordinances or as may be referred to it from time to time by the Mayor.

§ 5.4.2. Composition.

The department of safety shall be composed of the dDirector of Ssafety, the cChief of pPolice, the fFire cChief, the Administrator of Emergency Medical Services and their respective employees and/or volunteers.

§ 5.4.3. Animal Control OfficerDog Warden and Deputy.

The Dog Warden and Deputy Dog WardenAnimal Control Officer and any such Assistant Animal Control officers as are appointed shall be under the jurisdiction, supervision and control of the chief of police. During the absence or disability of the dog wardenAnimal Control Officer, the Assistant Animal Control Officersdeputy dog warden shall perform all the duties of the Animal Control Officerdog warden.

§ 5.5.2. Composition.

The department of health shall be composed of the director of health, the town health officer and their respective employees all other employees required by law, and such other employees as have been assigned.

§ 5.5.3. Director of Health Officer.

The Director of Health Officer shall have all the powers and duties set forth by the General Statutes and imposed by ordinances of the Townfederal, state and local law.

§ 5.6.5. Financial Reports.

Financial reports shall be prepared for each quarter and each fiscal year, and for such other periods as may be required by the Mayor and/or Council. Said reports shall be provided to the Mayor and the Council.

§ 5.6.6. Payments.

Payments by the Town shall be made only upon vouchersas certified by the head of the appropriate department or other division of the town government and by means of warrants on the town treasurer issued by the director of finance and countersigned by the Mayor as approved by the director of finance. Payments shall be authorized by the director of finance and the Mayor . The director of finance shall examine all payrolls, bills and other claims and demands against the town, and shall issue no warrant for payment unless he or she finds that the claim is in proper form, correctly computed and duly certified, that it is justly and legally due and payable, that an appropriation has been made therefore which has not been exhausted or that the payment has been otherwise legally authorized and that there is money in the town treasury to make payment. He or she may require any claimant to make oath to the validity of the claim. He or she may investigate any claim and for such purposes may examine witnesses under oath and if he or she finds it is fraudulent, erroneous or otherwise invalid he or she shall not issue a warrant therefore.

§ 5.6.7. Audit of Accounts.

a. The Town shall conduct an audit upon any of the following: (a) after the close of the fiscal year, an annual audit will be conducted; (b) upon the death, resignation, removal or expiration of the term of any director of the Town or such other employee as determined by the director of finance, the director of finance shall make an audit and investigation of accounts of such director or employee and shall report such findings to the Mayor and the Council; (c) upon the death, resignation, removal or expiration of the term of the director of finance, the Mayor shall direct that an independent audit be made of his or her accounts, and the findings of such audit shall be reported to the Mayor and the Council; and (d) upon the authorization of the Council, at any time, the accounts of any officer or department head of the Town may be audited.

b. The annual audit required by Section 5.6.7 (1)(a) shall be made by Certified Public Accountants, selected by the Council, who have no personal interest, direct or indirect, in the financial affairs of the Town or any of its officers or employees.

Upon the death, resignation, removal or expiration of the term of any officer of the Town, other than the director of finance, the director of finance shall make an audit and investigation of the accounts of such officer and report to the Mayor and Council. As soon as practical after the close of each fiscal year, an annual audit shall be made of all accounts of all town officers and upon the death, resignation, removal or expiration of the term of the director of finance, an audit shall be made of his or her accounts. Such audit shall be made under the provisions of any law for the inspection and audit of municipal accounts by state officers, and if there is no such state inspection, such audits shall be made by certified public accountants, selected by the Council, who have no personal interest, direct or indirect, in the financial affairs of the town or any of its officers or employees. The Council may, at any time, provide for the examination or audit of the accounts of any officer or department of the Town government.

§ 5.8.1. Wage and Salary Schedule.

The Mayor shall develop a wage and salary schedule, acceptable to the Council for all classified and unclassified administrative departmentTown employees, which schedule shall be approved by the Town Council.

§ 5.8.2. Advisory and Technical Assistants.

The Mayor may recommend to the Council the appointment of any necessary advisory or technical assistants for promulgating such rules and the development of such wage and salary schedule.

§ 6.2.1. Budget

Not later than three (3) months before the end of each fiscal yearMarch 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.

§ 6.2.2. Budget Appropriations.

The Council shall annually pass an appropriation ordinance, at least thirty (30) days before the beginning of each fiscal year 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.

§ 6.2.4. ContinuedCurrent Expenses.

Before the 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, mayshall 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 officer or employee of the Town, except in accordance with the provisions of the annualprevious year’s appropriation ordinance or under continuing contracts and loans authorized under the provisions of this charter.

§ 6.2.6. Tax Ordinance.

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, not exceeding five (5%) per centum, as may be required by the Town budgetnecessary to meet commissions, fees and abatements in the amount of taxes collected from the estimates , and shall prescribe the manner and time for payment.

§ 6.3.2. Notice.

The assessing authorityTax Assessor of the Town of Stratford shall, on or before the first day of October, annually, post on a sign post in said Townin the tax Assessor’s office and or 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.

§ 6.3.3. Assessment Date.

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 tTax aAssessor shall file such lists not later than the first day of November in each year, or, if such day shall occur on Sunday, then on the next business day following. All personal property required by the General Statutes to be listed with the tTax Aassessor for purposes of taxation shall be included in such lists.

§ 6.3.4. Power of Assessing Authority.

The assessing authority shall have the power to summon to appear before such authority within sixty (60) days after November first in each year any person or persons whom such authority may have reason to believe to be the owner of any property taxable in said Town concerning which additional information shall be desired for the purpose of making an assessment. Such person or persons shall be required to furnish under oath such information to such taxing authority.

§ 6.3.5. Notice of Summons.

Notice of such summons shall be sent in writing by mail, postage prepaid and registered, and the person so summoned shall appear within one week from the date of the sending of such summons. Such notice shall state clearly the purpose of such summons and the property concerning which information is desired.

§ 6.3.6. Failure to Comply.

Failure to comply therewith, in addition to any penalty that may be provided by law, shall bar the right of such person to appeal to the Board of Tax Review and to the Court of Common Pleas , under the General Statutes in such case provided, from any action which the assessing authority may take in the premises, provided if the Board of Tax Review shall decide that such failure to appear before the assessing authority, was not willful or was excusable, such appeal may be allowed if made within the time provided by the General Statutes.

§ 6.4. Financing Public Works and Improvements.

§ 6.4.1. Definitions.

As used in sections 6.4.2 to 6.4.119, 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 matters. 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.

§ 6.4.6. Appraisal of Benefits and Damages.

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 Servicein the post office at Stratford, 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 mainte­ nance of trunk line sewers and of any sewage disposal plant, or any or all of such works, as hereinabove provided. Notice of assessment. Within thirty 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.

Payment and collection of assessments. The tax collector shall, within the sixty days of the date of filing of the certificate described in 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 five per cent per annum. In the case of unimproved and undeveloped land a percentage not exceeding fifty per cent 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.

§ 6.4.7. Water Pollution Control AuthorityConnecting to Sewerage System.

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.

Property owners shall be permitted to connect with the sewerage system of the town before the completion of an entire project of extension or improvement of the sewerage system and prior to the time any assessment is made therefor, in accordance with such rules and regulations as may be adopted from time to time by the Council, which rules and regulations may require the payment in advance to the town of a reasonable sum to be paid on account of any later benefit assessment levied against the properties of such owners.

§ 6.4.8. AppealSewerage Districts.

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.

The Council may divide the total territory to be benefited by any sewerage system construction or work thereon into districts and may levy assessments against the property benefited in each district separately. In assessing benefits against the property in any district, the Council may add to the cost of the part of the sewerage system located in such district a proportionate share of any

part of the sewerage system located outside the district which is necessary for the operation of that part of the system within the district and of any of the other items of cost or expense above enumerated.

§6.4.9. Liens and Penalties for NonpaymentAppeal.

All assessments of benefits made in accordance with this section 6.4 shall constitute a lien as permitted by state law and shall be enforced as provided by law.Any person aggrieved by the appraisal of damages or assessment of benefits or both may, within ten (10) days after the filing with the Town Clerk of the certificate described in section 6.4.6.c. and notice given as provided therein, appeal from such appraisal of damages or assessments of benefits or both, to the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Fairfield. Such appeal shall be by petition in writing, setting forth the appraisal or assessment appealed from, with the appellant's prayer for relief, with a citation attached thereto, signed by an authority authorized to sign writs, and returnable before said court at the same time and served and returned in the same manner as is required in the case of a summons in a civil action returnable before said court. Service of such citation shall be upon the Town Clerk. The court shall, by committee, or other­wise, review and revoke, modify or confirm such appraisal or assessment, reappraise such damages or reassess such benefits, or make such order as equity may provide, and may allow costs to either party at its discretion, and said court, in consideration of such appeal, may inquire into the validity of all proceedings upon which the action appealed from is based.

§ 6.4.10. Liens and Penalties for Nonpayment.

All assessments of benefits made in accordance with this section 6.4 shall be a lien upon the property specially benefited thereby to secure the amount of such assessment, and shall take precedence of all other liens and encumbrances upon the property against which it shall have been imposed except taxes and may be foreclosed in favor of the town in the same manner as tax liens are foreclosed; provided no lien shall continue to exist for more than sixty (60) days after such assessment shall become payable, unless, within said period, a certificate describing the name of the person or persons against whom such assessment was made, the property subject to the assessment, the amount of the assessment, the purpose for which the assessment was made and the date such assessment was payable, shall be signed by the tax collector and lodged with the Town Clerk, to be by him or her recorded in a book kept for that purpose. After the filing of such certificate, such lien shall continue until the amount thereof, with interest, recording fees and a fee of one dollar for drafting the certificate, shall have been paid. Any such lien shall be invalid after the expiration of fifteen (15) years from the date of recording such certificate continuing the same, unless within such period an action of foreclosure shall have been commenced. No such lien may be foreclosed against property, the ownership of which was changed since the date of the final decision or determination to undertake the public work or improvement the assessment of benefits for which gave rise to said lien, unless the certificate described in section 6.4.3. has been recorded as provided therein, or unless the person or persons who had record title to said property on the date of recording of the certificate of lien had, before taking title to said land, actual notice of the specific assessment or pending assessment which gave rise to the lien.

§ 6.4.11. Provisions of Section 6.4 Not Exclusive.

The powers expressed in this Section 6.4 are in addition to the powers granted to towns under the General Statutes and to the Town of Stratford under any Special Act of the General Assembly.

§ 6.5.2. BiddingContracts for Public Work or Improvement.

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.

§ 7.1.1. Town Elections.

A Town election shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November of each odd numbered year, which shall be known as the regular Town election, at which one candidate from each district hereinafter established shall be elected to membership on the Council. The Mayor, Members of the Board of Education, Zoning Commission, Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Constables in numbers prescribed by the General Statutes shall also be elected at regular town elections as set forth in this Charter. [TOWN ATTORNEY NOTE: SEE Connecticut General Statutes §7-193 regarding the required statutory provisions of

local government and TOWN ATTORNEY OPINION dated February 19, 2003]

§ 7.1.2. Nomination of Candidates.

The mode of nomination and election of candidates for Mayor, the Council, Board of Education, Zoning Commission, Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Constables shall be in accordance with the General Statutes except as otherwise provided for the Board of Education in this Charter. [TOWN ATTORNEY NOTE: SEE Connecticut General Statutes §9-200 and 9-195].

§ 7.1.3. Town Election Districts.

For the purpose of the regular town elections, the town is divided into ten districts. The boundaries of the election districts, as set forth in Section 11-2 of the Stratford Town Code, section 12 of number 1051, Special Laws of 1921, as amended by section 3, of number 173, Special Laws of 1931, shall continue to be the boundaries of election districts in the town until different boundaries are adopted in the manner set forth pursuant to the provisions of Connecticut state law and in sections 7.1.4., 7.1.5. and 7.1.6. of this Charter.

§ 7.1.4. Provision for Reapportionment of ElectionDistrict Changes Districts.

The Council shall reapportion theappoint an Election Districts as provided in Section 9-169f of the Connecticut General Statutes, as may from time to time be amended Revision Commission within ninety (90) days following the adoption of this Charter and shall make another such appointment every ten (10) years thereafter. Said commission shall consist of three (3) Council Members, with not more than two being members of the same political party, and two (2) registrars of voters.

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

The Council shall appoint an Election District Revision Commission which shall consist of three (3) Council Members, with not more than two being members of the same political party, and two (2) registrars of voters. The Election District Revision Commission shall rearrange the boundaries of the existing ten (10) election districts of the Town where necessary, each of which shall encompass not more than ten twelve (1012%) per centum and not less than eight (8%) per centum of the total population based on population data for the Town from the most recent decennial census of the United States.

The recommendations of the Commission shall be presented to the Council within ninety (90) days after the appointment of said Commission. [TOWN ATTORNEY NOTE: SEE Connecticut General Statutes §9-169f]

SECTION 9

§ 9.5.1. Effective Date.

(a) This charter shall be effective in accordance with Connecticut General Statutesat 8:00 p.m. on the second Monday of December following the regular Town election held in November 2005.

(b)The Charter provisions contained herein have been prepared in anticipation of submission for approval to the Stratford electors at the municipal election of November 2003. With
the exception of the specified provisions described in subsection (c) below, all amendments approved in accordance with the applicable statutes at the municipal
election of November 2003 shall be effective as herein provided in subsection (a).

(c)If this Charter is approved by the Stratford electors at the municipal election of November 2003, all such amendments relating to the establishment of the elected Mayoral office and the elimination of the elected Councilman at Large office would be effective for the municipal elections to be held in November 2005. Upon approval of
such charter changes in November 2003, all municipal officials including but not limited to the Town Council, Town Clerk and Registrar of Voters, shall be authorized and
required to take any and all actions necessary to effect the implementation of such charter changes for the municipal election to be conducted in November 2005. Such actions
would include but not be limited to the implementation of the procedure for the nominations for the newly created office of Mayor in accordance with Connecticut election laws.

§ 9.8.1. Employment of Charter Revision Commission Members

No person who serves on any charter revision commission may accept any salaried position with the Town of Stratford for a period of four (4) years after the Commission disbands, with the exception of any person currently employed by the Town.