Ridgefield Town Charter

ARTICLE VII. BOARD OF SELECTMEN

Section 7-1. Composition.

The members of the board of selectmen shall be a first selectman, and four (4) members who shall be compensated in such manner and amount as may be determined at the annual budget meeting. No more than three (3) members of this board shall be members of the same political party. The method of election, term of office and qualifications for members of the board of selectmen shall be as specified in Article IV of this Charter. (5)

Section 7-2. Procedure and general powers.

At its first meeting following each biennial town election, the board of selectmen in accordance with the General Statutes and this Charter shall fix the time and place of its regular meetings, provide a method for calling special meetings, consistent with Section 1-21 of the General Statutes, and designate which member shall preside in place of the first selectman in the event of absence or disability.

A special meeting of the board of selectmen may be called at any time by the first selectman or any two (2) members. The person or persons calling a special meeting shall give reasonable advance notice and reason for such meeting to the other members of the board. Notice may be waived, however, by written waiver, signed by all members of the board of selectmen and filed with the town clerk at any time before or after the meeting.

All meetings of the board of selectmen for the transaction of business shall be open to the public. The votes of each member shall be recorded at the session at which they occur and reported in the minutes of such meeting. Minutes shall be taken and filed and votes shall be recorded and published in accordance with section 6-3 of this Charter. Three (3) members shall constitute a quorum, and all resolutions or actions shall be adopted by majority vote.

The board of selectmen shall generally supervise the administration of the affairs of the town, except those matters which according to General Statutes or this Charter are delegated to other agencies or boards.

The board of selectmen shall be responsible for coordinating the activities of all town agencies, and for keeping under review the present and future needs of the town. (5)

Section 7-3. Special powers and duties.

In addition to the general powers above, the board of selectmen, subject to the provisions of the General Statutes and this Charter and the necessary approvals of the town meeting as specified by law and Articles III and X of this Charter, shall have the power:

(a) To incur indebtedness in the name of the town, and to provide for the due execution of contracts and evidences of indebtedness issued by the town;

(b) To purchase, lease, sell or convey real property of or for the town, subject to approval of the town meeting;

(c) To institute, prosecute, defend or compromise any legal action or proceeding by or against the town;

(d) To enter into contracts for any services and to purchase or contract to purchase any supplies, materials, equipment and other commodities required by any town agency, and to take, purchase, lease, sell or convey any personal property of or for the town. The board of selectmen may by resolution or regulation delegate its powers in this subsection (d) to any town agency;

(e) To establish written rules and regulations under which contracts shall be made and carried out for all public works and improvements;

(f) To employ such staff with such powers, duties and responsibilities as it may deem desirable to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the board of selectmen, within the confines of its approved budget;

(g) To issue notes in anticipation of tax collections payable within the fiscal year, and to issue bonds or bond anticipation notes up to the amount authorized by a town meeting, in each instance upon such terms and conditions as the board of selectmen may approve, including without limitation the manner and form of issue and sale thereof, the date and rate of interest thereof, the designation of a bank or trust company to act as certifying or paying agent thereof, and the designation of the persons to sign such notices in the name of or on behalf of the town;

(h) To accept, or refuse to accept, roads offered to the town, and to abandon or discontinue town roads;

(i) To accept real property donated to the town, following approval by the planning and zoning commission, for open space and easements for conservation purposes or for road widening.

(j) To approve the transfer of monies between line items within the budget of any town agency. (11)

Section 7-4. Powers with respect to ordinances.

The board of selectmen may propose to a town meeting duly called, ordinances consistent with the General Statutes and this Charter on any matter which the General Statutes authorizes to be legislated by ordinance, and which in general would serve to aid in the preservation of the good order, health, welfare, and safety of the town.

On a declaration of state or public emergency, as provided for in section 8-5 of this Charter, the board of selectmen may enact ordinances to meet such emergency, consistent with the General Statutes and this Charter. Such emergency ordinances shall become effective once published by the most effective means available. They shall remain in effect for no more than sixty (60) days and not beyond the duration of the emergency, unless ratified by the town meeting. They may be repealed by vote of the board of selectmen or the town meeting.

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