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Charter panel adopts clause making managers subject to published policies, clarifies exceptions
Summary
The New Canaan Charter Revision Commission voted to add a provision requiring elected and appointed town officers with managerial responsibility to comply with published policies and, as amended, to be accountable to the first selectman while preserving statutorily protected independence for offices such as the police and fire commissions and the Board of Education.
The New Canaan Charter Revision Commission on April 27 adopted a new charter provision (C2-14) stating that elected and appointed officers with managerial responsibility must follow published administrative policies and shall comply with lawful directives and oversight "consistent with the town charter and applicable law." The motion, adopted as amended, preserves statutory independence for certain offices.
Commissioners debated whether the accountability language belongs in the charter or should instead live in personnel policies or ordinances. Opponents worried that wording such as "accountable to the first selectman" could conflict with statutory duties of elected officials; supporters and the eventual majority said the amendment simply establishes a high-level governance expectation and clarifies reporting lines for administrative matters. As amended before the vote, the clause requires that policies be published and explicitly states that nothing in the provision "shall be construed to diminish the statutory authority or independence of elected town officers, the fire commission, police commission and/or board of education where such authority is prescribed by state law."
The commission approved the amended text by roll call: Yes — Steve Casease, Angela Jameson, Russ Kimes, Todd Lampert, Judy Neville, Bill Perez, Karen Willet, Kathleen Corbett (8). No — Jennifer Holm, Joe Paulo (2). Absent — Chris Lee (1). The motion was seconded by a commissioner; the precise mover/second wording appears in the minutes.
Members said the change will be followed by guidance and references to the town's employee handbook and published policies. Several commissioners asked staff to ensure the new language uses the phrase "published policies and rules" so that requirements are discoverable and enforceable. The commission recorded that details about enforcement procedures and remedies would remain in ordinances and policy documents rather than in the charter itself.
The commission chair said the red-lined charter text will be circulated and that commissioners should send any technical edits before the next meeting.
