State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Connecticut > Title7 > Chap092 > Sec7-22

      Sec. 7-22. Removal of town clerks. Whenever complaint in writing is made to the state's attorney for any judicial district that the town clerk of any town in such judicial district is guilty of misconduct, wilful and material neglect of duty or incompetence in the conduct of his office, such state's attorney shall make such investigation of the charges as he deems proper and shall, if he is of the opinion that the evidence obtained warrants such action, prepare a statement in writing of the charges against such town clerk, together with a citation in the name of the state, commanding such town clerk to appear before a judge of the Superior Court at a date named therein and show cause, if any, why he should not be removed from office as hereinafter provided. Such state's attorney shall cause a copy of such statement and citation to be served by some proper officer upon the defendant at least ten days before the date of appearance named in such citation, and the original statement and citation, with the return of the officer thereon, shall be returned to the clerk of the superior court for the judicial district within which such town is situated. To carry into effect the proceedings authorized by this section, the state's attorney of any judicial district shall have power to summon witnesses, require the production of necessary books, papers and other documents and administer oaths to witnesses; and upon the day named in such citation for the appearance of such town clerk, or upon any adjourned day fixed by the judge before whom such proceedings are pending, he shall appear and conduct the hearing on behalf of the state. If, after a full hearing of all the evidence offered by the state's attorney and by and in behalf of the defendant, such judge is of the opinion that the evidence presented warrants the removal of such town clerk, he shall cause to be prepared a written order to that effect, which order shall be signed by him and lodged with the clerk of the superior court for the judicial district in which such defendant resides. Such clerk of the superior court shall cause a certified copy of such order to be served forthwith upon such town clerk, and upon such service the office held by such town clerk shall become vacant and the vacancy thereby created shall be filled at once in the manner provided in section 9-220. Any witnesses summoned and any officer making service under the provisions of this section shall be allowed and paid by the state the same fees as are allowed by law in criminal prosecutions.

      (1949 Rev., S. 506; 1953, S. 256d; P.A. 78-280, S. 2, 127.)

      History: P.A. 78-280 substituted "judicial district" for "county".