Legal Authority of the City Clerk

The City Clerk is the second highest elected official of the City and is elected to a two year term of office. (City Charter, Article II, Sec.1.)  The other elected officials are: Mayor,  Aldermen, Board of Education, Planning & Zoning Board, Registrar of Voters and Constables.

The City Clerk, per Article III Section 10 of the City Charter is also the Town Clerk and shall have all the powers and duties imposed by the Connecticut General Statutes particularly Section 7-35; prescribed in the City Charter; and/or by the Board of Aldermen.

The City Clerk, unless otherwise provided by Charter or Ordinance, may appoint Assistant City Clerks, under C.G.S. Section 7-19 and having taken the oath provided for City Clerks shall, in the absence or inability of the City Clerk, have all his/her powers and perform all his/her duties.

The City Clerk is also the ex-officio Registrar of Vital Statistics per C.G.S. Section 7-37 and as such is responsible for all statutory requirements pertaining to the care of returns relating to births, marriages, civil unions, and deaths. The ex-officio Registrar of Vital Statistics may per C.G.S. Section 7-38 and unless otherwise provided by Charter or Ordinance, may appoint up to four persons as Assistant Registrar of Vital Statistics.

The City Clerk additionally serves as the Clerk of the Municipality and in that capacity functions as Clerk to the Board of Aldermen.  This involves format, layout, preparation and distribution of the agendas for regular and special meetings of the Board of Aldermen.