The Town Clerk's Office serves as a resource for others within our community by providing direction, guidance, information and assistance. It often provides the professional link between residents, local governing bodies and State agencies. The Town Clerk is also the official keeper of the Town Seal. The Town's Charter and the Connecticut General Statutes define the Town Clerk's duties and functions. The Town Clerk is an elected official who is responsible for the preservation and safekeeping of the Town's official records and documents. Deeds, mortgages, liens, assignments, survey maps, and other instruments concerning title to land are recorded, indexed and microfilmed. Official notices of meetings and most agendas are posted here for public inspection. Original records, which are safeguarded in the Town Clerk's vault, date back to 1801 when New Canaan was incorporated as a town. The meeting records of Boards and Commissions are kept on file, Notaries Public are sworn in, Trade Names and Military Discharges are recorded, and a number of other permits and licenses are sold through the Town Clerk's Office. The Town Clerk serves as the Town's Registrar of Vital Statistics and issues birth, marriage and death certificates in addition to handling other matters pertaining to vital records. The Town Clerk also issues dog licenses and sponsors a low-cost rabies clinic annually at Town Hall. As a chief election official, the Town Clerk registers new voters, is responsible for the execution of the absentee ballot process, the execution of referenda, and for the calling of a recanvass when a vote is close. Other responsibilities include administering training sessions for poll workers in conjunction with the Registrars of Voters, reporting and issuing the Town's final election results, administering the Oath of Office to all elected and appointed officials, and keeping the Secretary of State apprised on the status of all Town officials. Local candidates and political campaign committees register with the Town Clerk, who provides information concerning Campaign Finance Guidelines to political parties and individuals seeking public office. People from all political parties, special interest groups, and others regularly request information and guidance from the Town Clerk. The Town Clerk and her staff are committed to providing that information in an impartial, friendly, and helpful way. And if we don't know an answer, we'll do our very best to help you find one! Welcome! |