A. Powers and Purposes489. In addition to the Departments specifically set forth in §§ 8-3 through 8-7 of this Charter, the Town, acting within the powers and duties enumerated in the General Statutes, any applicable Special Acts and this Charter may establish, by Ordinance, such Departments necessary to carry out and organize the functions of government. The express intent of this Charter is to afford the Mayor and the Legislative Council the ability to organize the government in order to achieve a balance of efficiency and service to the people of the Town consistent with the provisions herein.
B. Creation of Departments490. Accordingly, the Legislative Council may, by Ordinance proposed by the Mayor, establish the Departments
491 of the Town. Each of these Departments shall be constituted to perform such functions and have such powers and duties as are imposed by the General Statutes, this Charter and Ordinances. Moreover, the head of each Department established by Ordinance shall be subject to the provisions of this Charter generally applicable to Department Heads and shall serve coterminously with the term of the appointing Mayor (however, may continue to serve until a successor shall be appointed and shall have qualified); unless otherwise provided by the General Statutes or this Charter. All Departments shall be entitled to office space provided by the Town and shall remain open during such hours as the Mayor may direct.
C. Reorganization Plans.
(1) The delineation of departmental categories in this Charter is advisory and may be altered pursuant to a reorganization plan proposed by the Mayor and approved by the Legislative Council. Accordingly, any departmental categories may be reorganized and Department Heads may be reassigned (unless otherwise prohibited by law). The reorganization plan is subject to the limitation that all governmental functions set forth in this Charter shall continue to be provided to the residents of the Town; unless such function was eliminated as the result of a repealed Federal or State mandate and not otherwise in the best interest of the Town to continue. Moreover, any reorganization plan shall include specific reference to the departmental function(s) set forth in this Charter that will be carried out in said reorganization and shall be accompanied by an opinion of the Town Attorney verifying that the reorganized function complies with the Charter requirements492.
(2) Any internal departmental reorganization plan proposed by a Department Head, pertaining to non-budgetary matters, shall be forwarded to the Mayor for review, approval and final action, prior to announcement and implementation of the plan by the Department. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with regard to the Police and Fire Departments such internal departmental reorganizational plan shall be forwarded by the Department Head (following review and approval by the Mayor) to the Police Commission and the Fire Commission, as applicable, for review, approval and final action, prior to announcement and implementation of the plan493.
488 Charter Revision of 2011.
489 Charter Revision of 2011.
490 Charter Revision of 2011.
491 "Department" includes "...and agencies".
492 Charter Revision of 2011.
493 Charter Revision of 2011.