[HISTORY: Adopted by the Special Town Meeting
of the Town of Fairhaven 9-24-1987 by Arts. 1, 3, 5 and 7 (Ch. III, Secs. 21 through 24 of
the 1934 Bylaws). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Finance Committee — See Ch. 33.
There shall be a Department of Finance which
will be under the direction of the Director of Finance. The Department
of Finance shall provide personnel and equipment to the offices of
the Treasurer, Board of Assessors, Town Accountant, Town Collector
and Purchasing Officer, which shall be the Divisions of the Department
of Finance. The Director of Finance will coordinate the activities
of the various Divisions of the Department of Finance and, subject
to applicable law, shall supervise the operation of those Divisions.
[Added 5-4-2013 STM by Art. 5]
The Director of Finance shall act as treasurer and collector.
A.
The Director of Finance shall be appointed by the
Select Board for a term of one to three years and may be removed at
its discretion. The Director of Finance shall be sworn to the faithful
performance of his/her duties. During the time that he/she holds office,
he/she shall hold no elective Town office, but he/she may be appointed
by the Select Board or, with its approval, by any other Town officer,
board, committee or commission to any other Town office or position
consistent with the office. He/she shall receive such aggregate compensation,
not exceeding the amount appropriated therefor, as the Select Board
may determine. He/she shall act by and for the Select Board in any
matter which it may assign to him/her relating to the administration
of the financial affairs of the Town or of any Town office or department
under its supervision and control or, with the approval of the Select
Board, may perform such other duties as may be requested of him/her
by any other Town officer, board, committee or commission.
[Amended 6-14-2021 ATM by Art. 46]
B.
In addition to those duties otherwise established
by law, the specific duties and qualifications of the Director of
Finance shall be as follows:
(1)
The Director of Finance shall be responsible for the
operation of the Finance Department including the Divisions of Accounting,
Collection, Assessing, Treasury and Purchasing. The Director of Finance
shall be responsible for assisting the Town Administrator in the preparation
of the budget and the long-range strategic financial plan. The Director
of Finance shall be responsible for planning and implementing the
computerization of the financial records of the Town.
[Amended 5-7-2016 ATM
by Art. 36]
(2)
The Director of Finance shall be professionally qualified
for the position in terms of training and experience.
(3)
He/she shall have a bachelor's degree in business
or public administration or a related field. A master's degree and
a CPA are desirable.
(4)
He/she shall have a minimum of eight years of experience
in public or private sector financial management, at least half of
which shall be in a supervisory position, and shall have knowledge
of computers, accounting and budgeting.
(5)
He/she shall have a demonstrated ability to work diplomatically
with citizens and employees and shall be able to be bonded.
C.
The Select Board may from time to time vary the duties
and qualifications of the Director of Finance if it finds that such
variance is in the best interest of the Town and does not derogate
from the intent of the bylaws and is not otherwise contrary to law.
[Amended 6-14-2021 ATM by Art. 46]
[Amended 5-3-2008 STM by Art. 30]
A.
The Board of Assessors shall consist of three members,
appointed by the Select Board to serve on a part-time basis for a
term of three years.
[Amended 6-14-2021 ATM by Art. 46]
B.
A member of said Board of Assessors serving on the
effective date of this section shall continue to serve for the balance
of the term for which he/she was appointed.
C.
The members of the Board of Assessors shall be responsible
for hearing appeals and deciding abatements. The Select Board may
from time to time vary the duties and qualifications of the members
of the Board of Assessors if it finds that such variance is in the
best interest of the Town and does not derogate from the intent of
the bylaws and is not otherwise contrary to law.
[Amended 6-14-2021 ATM by Art. 46]
A.
There shall be a Division of Purchasing within the
Department of Finance, which division shall be under the direction
of a Purchasing Officer. The Purchasing Officer shall be appointed
by the Select Board for a term of one to three years and may be removed
at its discretion. He/she shall be sworn to the faithful performance
of his/her duties. He/she may be appointed by the Select Board or,
with its approval by another Town officer, board, committee or commission,
to any other Town office or position consistent with his/her office.
He/she shall receive such aggregate compensation, not exceeding the
amount appropriated therefor, as the Select Board may determine.
[Amended 6-14-2021 ATM by Art. 46]
B.
The Purchasing Officer, under the general direction
of the Treasurer, shall be responsible for the operation of the Purchasing
Division. The duties shall include central purchasing, contract administration,
risk management and inventory control.
C.
The Purchasing Officer shall be qualified for the
position in terms of education and training. He/she shall have an
associate of arts degree in business or a related field. A bachelor's
degree would be preferred. He/she shall have a minimum of five years
of experience doing administrative work in the private or public sector,
preferably in the areas of purchasing, contract administration or
risk management, with the knowledge of computers desirable. He/she
shall have a demonstrated ability to work diplomatically with the
public, vendors and employees.
D.
The Select Board may vary the duties and qualifications
of the Purchasing Officer if it finds such variance is in the best
interest of the Town and does not derogate from the intent of the
bylaws and is not otherwise contrary to law.
[Amended 6-14-2021 ATM by Art. 46]
