(2002)

Dear Mayor Butler:

You have requested our opinion on whether the Easton Town Council may, by ordinance, grant subpoena power to a municipal administrative agency. We understand that, during discussions concerning the creation of a local human relations commission, the question arose whether a Town ordinance could grant such a commission subpoena power for purposes of its investigations and proceedings.

Your request was accompanied by a well-researched opinion by the Town Attorney which concluded that, although the Town has authority to create such a commission, it lacks authority to grant…