The organization of the Town into operating agencies for the provision of services and the administration of the government may be accomplished through either of the methods provided in this article.
(a) 
By-Laws — Subject to the General Laws of the Commonwealth and the provisions of this Charter, the Town Meeting may, by by-law, reorganize, consolidate, create, merge, divide or abolish any Town department or Town office, in whole or in part; establish such new Town department or Town office as it deems necessary or advisable, determine the manner of selection, the term of office and prescribe the functions of all such entities; provided however, that no function assigned by this Charter to a particular Town department or Town office may be discontinued, or unless this Charter specifically so provides, assigned to any other.
(b) 
Administrative Code – The Town Manager, after consultation with the Board of Selectmen, may from time to time prepare and submit to the Town Meeting, plans of organization or reorganization which establish operating divisions for the orderly, efficient or convenient conduct of the business of the Town.
Whenever the Town Manager prepares such a plan, the Board of Selectmen shall hold one or more public hearings on the proposal giving notice by publication in a local newspaper, which notice shall describe the scope of the proposal and the time and place at which the hearing will be held, not less than ten or more than fourteen days following said publication. Following such public hearing, the proposal, which may have been amended subsequent to the public hearing, shall be submitted to the Town Meeting by an appropriate warrant article.
An organization or reorganization plan shall become effective at the expiration of sixty days following the date of adjournment of the Town Meeting at which the proposal is submitted unless the Town Meeting shall, by a majority vote, disapprove the plan. The Town Meeting may vote only to approve or to disapprove the plan and may not vote to amend or to alter it.
The Town Manager, unless expressly prohibited by the general laws of the Commonwealth or this Charter, may, through the administrative code, reorganize, consolidate or abolish any Town department, in whole or in part; establish such new Town department as is deemed necessary to the same extent as is provided in Section 5-1(a) above, for by-laws; 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 Town department to another; provided however, that no function assigned by this Charter to a particular Town department may be discontinued or, unless this Charter specifically so provides, assigned to any other.
For the convenience of the public, the administrative code and any amendments thereto shall be printed as an appendix to, but not an integral part of, the by-laws of the Town of Salisbury. The personnel and staffing plan as prepared by the Town Manager, in conformity with Section 4-2(c), shall be published annually in the Town Report.[1]
[1]
See Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, § 49
All appointments and promotions of Town officers and employees shall be made solely on the basis of merit and fitness demonstrated by examination or other evidence of competence and suitability.
It shall be unlawful for any Selectman, the Town Manager, or any other elective or appointive official of the Town, directly or indirectly, to make a contract with the Town, or to receive any reward from, or any share in the profits of, any person or corporation making or performing such contract, unless the official concerned, immediately upon learning of the existence of such contract, or that such a contract is proposed, shall notify the Selectmen and the Town Manager, by registered mail, of the contract and of the nature of his interest therein, and shall abstain from doing any official act on behalf of the Town in reference thereto. In case such interest exists on the part of an officer whose duty it is to make such a contract on behalf of the Town, the contract may be made by another officer of the Town duly authorized thereto by vote of the Selectmen. Violation of any provision of this section shall render the contract in respect to which such violation occurs voidable at the option of the Town. In all cases, all such contracts or rewards of such contracts with the Town shall be in full compliance with all the statutes of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and all ruling and regulations of the State Ethics Commission.
The aggregate compensations of each Town officer or employee appointed by the Town Manager shall be limited to the amount established in accordance with the provisions of this Charter, and all fees received in accordance with the provisions of any general or special law shall be paid into the treasury of the Town and disbursed to the appropriate person or authority in accordance with the laws.
(a) 
Establishment and Scope — There shall be a Department of Public Works, headed by a Director of Public Works, who shall be a person appointed by the Town Manager. The Director of Public Works so appointed shall be a person especially fitted by education, training, or previous experience to perform the duties of the department.
The Director of Public Works shall be responsible for the supervision and coordination of all public works operations of the Town which are placed under his control by this Charter, by by-law, by vote of the Town, or otherwise. Public Works operations may include, but need not be limited to, the following operations: refuse collection and disposal, forestry services, protection of natural resources, maintenance of all municipal buildings, grounds, property and facilities, including maintenance of school buildings and grounds upon request of the Triton Regional School District Committee, cemeteries, parks, salt marsh areas and recreation areas, conservation areas, public shade trees, water supply and distribution, sewers and sewerage systems, streets, roads, sidewalks and highway drainage systems, and engineering services. Other activities and functions which are related to a department of public works may from time to time be assigned to the department in accordance with by-laws or an administrative code, as provided in Section 5-2.
(b) 
Policy Formulation – The Board of Selectmen, acting through the Town Manager, shall be responsible for the overall supervision of the Department of Public Works, and for the establishment of policies and other guidelines to govern the operation of the department.
(a) 
Establishment and Scope – There shall be a Department of Finance and Administration, headed by a Finance Director/Town Accountant, who shall be either the Town Manager or a person appointed by the Town Manager responsible for the efficient coordination and implementation of the Town's financial and administrative functions as established by this Charter, by by-law, by administrative code, or otherwise, including but not limited to the following functions: accounting, treasurer, collections, including parking receipts and fines, assessing, Town Clerk, data processing, and purchasing.
(b) 
Finance Director/Town Accountant – The Department of Finance and Administration shall be under the direct control of a Finance Director/Town Accountant who shall be directly responsible to the Town Manager. The Finance Director/Town Accountant shall serve at the discretion of the Town Manager. He shall be a person especially fitted by education, training and previous experience to perform the duties of the office.
The Finance Director/Town Accountant shall be responsible for the supervision and coordination of all divisions within the department in accordance with state statutes, Town by-laws, administrative code and directives of the Town Manager.
(c) 
Policy Formulation – The Board of Selectmen, acting through the Town Manager, shall be responsible for the overall supervision of the Department of Finance and Administration and for the establishment of policies and other guidelines to govern the operation of the department.