§ 44. Public works.

(a)

Board of public works. The board of public works shall be composed of three council members and three resident electors of the City of Bristol nominated by the mayor and appointed by the city council. The mayor shall be a full member of such board, ex officio, and shall be the chairperson. No member of such board, other than the mayor or council members, shall hold any other office in the City of Bristol. The terms of the three resident electors on the board shall be for three-year terms, except that any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term, and provided further that the mayor and council members shall serve on the board only during their term of office. All appointments shall be made in the month of February and shall terminate on the last day of February in the year in which such term expires, except that the term of the mayor and council members shall start at the first council meeting after their election. The board shall direct the operations of the department of public works through the director of public works. The board shall prepare and recommend an annual budget, oversee the expenditure of monies, make long-term planning of the city's public works' needs, and hear appeals from the actions of the director of public works. The board shall keep a public record of activities and shall make a report of its actions to the city council at intervals as it shall deem necessary or upon request of the city council. At least one council member shall be a member of any committee of such board.

(b)

Director of public works. The director of public works shall be nominated by the mayor and appointed by the city council for a term of four years. The mayor shall notify such director of public works at least one month prior to the expiration of the term in writing that such person will or will not be renominated. The director of public works shall hold a degree in engineering, business or public administration, or a related field and shall have had at least five years' experience in a managerial capacity. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the director in office on the effective date of this section shall continue in office until the expiration of the term. The director of public works shall be responsible for the efficiency, discipline, and good conduct of the department of public works, and as provided in this charter shall appoint and may remove such deputies, assistants and employees as the director of public works may deem necessary subject to the approval of the city council and shall direct the activities of the city engineer. The director of public works shall exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office under the direction of the board of public works. The director of public works shall organize the work of the department in such manner as director of public works shall deem most economical and efficient. The director of public works shall be the tree warden and shall have all the powers and duties thereof as provided for by the general statutes. The director of public works shall have supervision and control of the maintenance of all city owned structures, except such structures as are under the control of the board of education, park department and water department, and of the planning, surveying, constructing and reconstructing, altering, paving, repairing, maintaining, cleaning, lighting and inspection of highways, sidewalks and curbs, storm sewers, public and private drains, and other public improvements, city buildings, and the preservation, care and removal of trees within highways and public places, all engineering work of the city and the collection of and disposal of garbage, rubbish and refuse. The director of public works shall have such other powers and duties as the board of public works may prescribe. Any provision of this section to the contrary notwithstanding, the department of public works (or any city department) may maintain and care for school buildings and grounds, but only if, and to the extent and for the period requested by the board of education and approved by the council, provided the costs are charged against the board of education's appropriations. The director of public works may close or restrict traffic over any section of any street, highway or bridge within the City of Bristol and within its control for the purposes of construction, reconstruction or repair by posting notices at each end of such highway or bridge, and any person using such highway or bridge when such notice is posted shall do so at such person's own risk. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize a violation of any term of any agreement with a duly approved collective bargaining agreement.

In all other sections of this charter the superintendent of public works shall be the director of public works.

(c)

City engineer. The city engineer shall be nominated by the mayor and appointed by the city council for a term of four years. The mayor shall notify such engineer at least one month prior to the expiration of the term in writing that such person will or will not be renominated. Notwithstanding the provision of this section, the full-time city engineer in office on the effective date of this section shall continue in office until the expiration of the term. The city engineer shall be a graduate professional civil engineer registered with the State of Connecticut or certifiable with the State of Connecticut within one year. The city engineer shall perform all engineering work approved by the board of public works and shall work under the direction of the director of public works. The city engineer or the city engineer's representative shall have the right to enter upon any land in the City of Bristol at any reasonable time for the purpose of engineering or surveying.

(Amend. eff. 11-9-77; Amend. eff. 11-4-81; Amend. eff. 11-9-83; Amend. eff. 11-7-89; Amend. eff. 12-8-05; Amend. eff. 12-8-11; Amend. eff. 12-5-13; Amend. eff. 12-6-18)