The Borough of Stonington was chartered in 1801 by a special act of the legislature of the State of Connecticut. It is the oldest Borough in Connecticut. The Borough Charter sets forth the basic structure of Borough government, describing the powers and duties of the elected officials. The governing body is the Board of Warden & Burgesses, which has the power to make Ordinances and prepares the budget for approval at the Annual Borough and Budget Meeting in the third week of April. The Board of Warden & Burgesses also appoints members of the Planning & Zoning Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals. The Harbor Management Commission is a joint agency of the Town and the Borough