§ 1-189.2. Authorization of Council to reorganize certain departments., Article IV. Common Council, Chapter 1. Charter and Related Laws, Charter and Special Acts, Code of Ordinances, Norwalk

The Council shall have the power to establish, reorganize and consolidate departments, agencies, commissions, authorities and boards of the city, hereinafter referred to as administrative departments. Provided, however, there shall be a Department of Health, a Department of Public Works and a Department of Public Welfare. The Council shall have the power to establish and amend by ordinance such rules, regulations, policies and procedures as it may deem necessary or appropriate to define and govern the powers, duties, responsibilities and operations of such administrative departments. Said powers of the Council shall apply to all administrative departments, including but not limited to all administrative departments in existence at the effective date of this section, whether established by Charter, Special Act, or ordinance; and ordinances enacted by the Council pursuant to this section shall supersede any prior inconsistent provisions of this Charter, Special Acts or ordinances.

This section shall not apply to (1) any elected departments, agencies, commissions, authorities or boards, including those elected by taxing districts; (2) the Police Department or its boards or commissions; (3) the Fire Department or its boards or commissions; (4) the Planning Commission; (5) the Zoning Commission; (6) the Board of Estimate and Taxation; (7) the Comptroller; (8) the Corporation Counsel.

In taking action under this section, the Council shall adopt appropriate provisions protecting the interests of any holders of debt which may have been issued by any administrative department affected by such action of the Council, prior to any ordinance enacted pursuant to this section, and the Council shall also adopt appropriate provisions regarding future issuance of debt instruments.

A vote of a majority of the entire membership of the Council shall be necessary to take any action authorized by this section, and said action shall be subject to the approval of the Mayor as set forth in Section 191 of the Charter (1956 Edition), Section 1-197 (1970 Edition). This section shall take effect on January 1, 1971.