The organization of the Town into operating
departments, divisions, offices and agencies may be accomplished through
either of the methods provided in this article.
(A)
By-Laws. Subject to State statute and the provisions
of this Charter, the Representative Town Meeting may, by by-law, reorganize,
consolidate, or abolish any Town board, commission, committee, department,
office or agency, in whole or in part, establish such new boards,
commissions, committees, departments, offices or agencies as it deems
necessary or advisable and prescribe the functions of all such entities;
provided, however, that no function assigned by this Charter to a
particular department, office, agency, board or commission or committee
may be discontinued, or unless this Charter specifically so provides,
assigned to any other.
(B)
Administrative Code. The Select Board, after consulting
with the Town Administrator, may from time to time prepare and submit
to the representative Town Meeting, plans of organization or reorganization,
which establish operating divisions for the orderly, efficient or
convenient conduct of the business of the Town.
[Amended 10-21-2019 FATM, Art. 19]
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Whenever the Select Board prepares such a plan,
it shall hold one or more public hearings on the proposal giving notice
by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town not
less than five (5) days in advance of said hearing, which notice shall
describe the scope of the proposal and the time and place at which
the hearing will be held. Following such public hearing, the Select
Board shall submit to the Representative Town Meeting by a warrant
article their proposal which may have been amended subsequent to the
public hearing.
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An organization or reorganization plan shall
become effective at the expiration of three (3) months, following
the date the proposal is submitted by the Select Board unless the
Representative Town Meeting shall by a majority vote within that time
vote to disapprove the plan. The Town Meeting may vote only to approve
or disapprove the plan and may not vote to amend or alter it. The
Select Board members may, through the Administrative Code, and subject
to State Statute, this Charter, and Town By-law, reorganize, consolidate
or abolish all town boards, departments, committees, commissions,
or offices, in whole or in part; establish such new boards, departments,
committees, commissions, or offices as they deem necessary; and for
such purpose transfer the duties and powers and, so far as is consistent
with the use for which the funds were voted by the Town, transfer
the appropriation of one board, department, committee, commission
or office to another; provided, however, that no function assigned
by this Charter or Town By-law to a particular department, office,
agency, board, commission or committee may be discontinued, or unless
this Charter specifically so provides, assigned to any other.
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[Amended 10-21-2019 FATM, Art. 19; 1-4-2023 by Chapter 370 of the Acts of
2022]
The Select Board shall establish job descriptions
for all departments in the Town of Walpole, except the School Department.
The Personnel Plan, as prepared by the Select Board, shall also be
kept on file in the office of the Town Clerk.
Up-to-date records of any reorganization plan
in force under this article shall be kept on file in the office of
the Town Clerk.
