[Adopted 5-9-2000 ATM, Art. D30]
There shall be a consolidated Department of Municipal Finance as provided for under MGL c. 43C, § 11, and as provided for in the following sections of this bylaw.
This Department shall include the following statutory, bylaw, or otherwise authorized presently existing entities as follows: Town Accountant, Treasurer/Collector of Taxes, and Assessors. Additionally, the Director of Municipal Finance, acting in an ex officio capacity, shall coordinate and assist the following financial committees: Finance Committee, Capital Budget Committee, and Commissioners of Trust Funds.
When in conflict, this bylaw shall prevail over other articles, the bylaws, or statutes as provided for in MGL c. 43C.
[Amended 9-12-2020 ATM by Art. 19]
There shall be a Director of Municipal Finance who shall be appointed by and responsible to the Select Board Members. The term of office for said position shall not be less than three years, nor more than five years, subject to removal as provided for in this bylaw.
[Amended 10-26-2004 STM, Art. 5; 9-12-2020 ATM by Art. 19]
The Director of Municipal Finance shall appoint the Town Accountant and the Treasurer/Collector of Taxes, subject to approval by the Select Board Members, and shall appoint the Director of Assessment, subject to the approval of the Board of Assessors. In performing duties where the approval of the Board of Assessors is statutorily required, the Director of Municipal Finance may direct the Director of Assessment, but the Board of Assessors will make any final decision. The Town Accountant, Treasurer/Collector of Taxes, and Director of Assessment shall hire and/or appoint his/her own staff, subject to approval by the Director of Municipal Finance.
All officers appointed by the Director of Municipal Finance may be appointed for a term of office up to three years.
The person holding the position of Director of Municipal Finance may also be appointed to hold other financial positions identified in this bylaw, except that no one person shall hold both the Town Accountant and Treasurer position at the same time.
[Amended 9-12-2020 ATM by Art. 19]
The Director of Municipal Finance may be removed from office by the Select Board as provided for in the town's Personnel Bylaw[1] or in any personal service employment agreement entered into by the Director and the Select Board.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 23, Personnel.
The functions of the Department of Municipal Finance shall include the following:
A. 
Coordination of all financial services and activities.
B. 
Maintenance of all account records and other financial statements, either directly or via the responsible department head.
C. 
Payment of all obligations, either directly or via the responsible department head.
D. 
Receipt of all funds due, either directly or via the responsible department head.
E. 
Personnel administration, either directly or via the responsible department head.
F. 
Oversight of the municipal information systems of the various Town departments.
G. 
Oversight of grant proposals and responsibility for compliance with the terms of grants received.
H. 
Assistance to all Town departments and offices in any manner related to financial affairs.
I. 
Monitor the expenditure of all funds, including periodic reporting to the appropriate agencies on the status of accounts.
J. 
Supervision of all purchases of goods, materials, and maintenance of inventory control.
K. 
Any other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Select Board.
[Amended 9-12-2020 ATM by Art. 19]
[Amended 9-12-2020 ATM by Art. 19]
The Director of Municipal Finance shall be responsible for the functions of the Department of Municipal Finance. He/she shall be specifically responsible for the annual budgeting process, beginning with the forecast of municipal revenues and the formulation of guidelines for submission of budget requests, through the consideration of budgets via support of the Finance Committee and the Select Board, up to the timely issuance of the resulting tax bills.
Any persons holding any office or position in the services of the Town upon acceptance of this optional form of administration under MGL c. 43C, § 11, and who is employed in an office or agency which is affected by or reconstituted by the creation of this Department of Municipal Finance, shall be allowed to continue in the employ of the Town without reduction in compensation or impairment of any civil service, collective bargaining agreement, retirement, pension, seniority, vacation, sick leave, or other rights or benefits to which then entitled.
This bylaw shall take effect July 1, 2000, subject to the approval of the Attorney General and approval at the Annual Town Election held May 16, 2000.
If any section of this bylaw shall to any extent be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceablitiy of the remaining sections shall not be deemed affected thereby.