There shall be a Board of Selectmen consisting of five members, each elected for a three-year term, who shall choose a chairman and shall act by majority vote, except as may be required by the Charter, bylaws, or the General Laws of the Commonwealth. The Selectmen shall be responsible for the general direction and management of the property and affairs of the Town, except as otherwise provided for by the Charter, bylaws or by the General Laws of the Commonwealth. (Charter § C-2.02A)
As agents for the Town, the Selectmen shall have authority to prosecute, defend, settle or compromise any and all claims, demands, suits by or against the Town. However, the Selectmen acting upon advice of counsel, shall not have the authority to settle or compromise any actions or claims against the Town if said settlement or compromise exceeds the funds appropriated for that purpose by vote of a duly called Town Meeting. (Charter § C-2.02B)
The Selectmen shall be the agents of the Town to institute,
prosecute, defend, and compromise any and all claims, actions, and
proceedings on behalf of or against the Town or in which the interest
of the Town is or may be involved. They may appear, either personally
or by special counsel duly empowered by them, before any court, committee
of the Legislature, or any State or County board or commission, to
protect the interest of the Town, but they are not authorized by these
bylaws to commit the Town to any course of action.
The Selectmen may investigate the operation of any Town department, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the General Laws of the Commonwealth. (Charter § C-2.02C)
The Selectmen shall cause the Annual Town Report to be printed on or before May 1 of the following fiscal year, and shall cause a copy of the report to be distributed at the following locations: main entrance to the Town Hall, Rockland Public Library and the Rockland Senior Center. (Charter § C-2.02D)
The Selectmen may issue permits and/or licenses subject to the requirements of the General Laws of the Commonwealth. However, their power to issue such permits and/or licenses shall not operate to limit the authority or affect the decision of any other Town board, commission, or official who may be required to act in the same matter by the provisions of the Charter, any Town bylaw, or the General Laws of the Commonwealth. (Charter § C-2.02F)
Unless otherwise provided by a vote of Town Meeting,
the Board of Selectmen, or such other Town officer or board as they
may by vote designate, is authorized to enter into any contract of
not more than three years duration, for the exercise of the Town's
corporate powers, on such terms and conditions as are deemed appropriate.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Selectmen or other designated
officer or board, shall not contract for any purpose, on any terms,
or under any conditions inconsistent with any applicable provision
of any general or special law.
The Selectmen shall annually, unless otherwise required, appoint the following Town officials, whose powers shall be set forth in these bylaws: (Charter § C-2.02G)
The Selectmen shall make the following appointments annually to Town boards, commissions, and committees, in such a manner that 1/3, as nearly as possible, of the members of each board, commission, or committee shall be appointed each year. The boards, commissions, and committees listed below shall have such powers and duties as are set forth in the bylaws. (Charter § C-2.02H)
The Selectmen shall, from time to time, appoint a
Chief of Police, whose powers and duties shall be as set forth in
the Charter and bylaws. Upon making said appointment the Selectmen
shall execute with him a contract of employment for a term not to
exceed five years. (Charter § C-2.02Ia)
The Selectmen shall, from time to time, appoint a Fire Chief, whose powers and duties shall be as set forth in the Charter and bylaws. The Fire Chief shall continue to hold office unless removed by the Selectmen for good cause after a public hearing, as detailed in Subsection H of this bylaw. (Charter § C-2.02Ib)
The Selectmen shall appoint such other Town officials, boards, and committees as may be required by the provisions of the Charter, any Town bylaw, a vote of Town Meeting, or the General Laws of the Commonwealth. In addition, the Selectmen may appoint temporary or "ad hoc" committees to deal with special emergency situations; but the duration of any such committee shall not extend past the next Annual Town Meeting unless extended by vote of that Town Meeting. (Charter § C-2.02K)
The terms of office of Town officials appointed annually, and of members of boards, commissions, and committees whose terms are expiring, shall end on the first day of May; except that all persons whose terms are expiring may serve until their successors are appointed and sworn in. The Selectmen shall make their annual appointments each year within 30 days following the Annual Town Election. (Charter § C-2.02L)
A vacancy in any appointive office, due to death, disability, resignation, or removal of the person holding the office, shall be filled by the Selectmen without unreasonable delay. The Selectmen shall make no appointment to fill a vacancy, however, until they have publicly announced the availability of the position at least two weeks prior to making the appointment. Any appointment made to fill a vacancy shall be for the unexpired term of office. (Charter § C-2.02M)
In all cases where a procedure for removal from office is not specified in the General Laws of the Commonwealth, no person appointed to office by the Selectmen shall be removed from that office except for good cause, and after a public hearing. Said hearing shall take place not sooner than one week after the person whose removal from office is sought has received written notice of the hearing and written particulars of the charges preferred against him. At the hearing that person shall be entitled to counsel, may introduce evidence and call witnesses on his behalf, and may cross-examine witnesses called against him. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Selectmen shall deliberate and vote upon the charges; the vote shall be by poll of the Board. No vote to remove from office shall be effective unless 2/3 of the Selectmen present and voting shall have voted in the affirmative. (Charter § C-2.02N)