Town Council members are elected at large for two years and represent all of West Hartford and the town clerk is elected for four years. The town has operated under a Council-Manager form of government since 1919. West Hartford was the first town in the state and one of the first in the country to adopt this form of government where the council acts as the elected policy board and the town manager serves as the chief executive officer responsible for carrying out the policies of the council.

All Town Council members are volunteers and do not get paid for this service to their community. The Town Clerk is a paid position.