The town manager shall be directly responsible
to the council for the administration of all departments, agencies
and offices in charge of persons or boards appointed by him or her,
and shall supervise and direct the same. The town manager shall see
that all laws and ordinances governing the town are faithfully executed;
may recommend to the council the creation, consolidation and abolition
of administrative departments and offices; shall make periodic reports
to the council and shall attend its meetings with full right of participation
in its discussions but without a right to vote; shall prepare and
cause to be printed, as soon as possible after the close of the fiscal
year, an annual town report; shall recommend to the council such measures
as he or she may deem necessary or expedient; shall keep the council
fully advised as to the financial condition of the town; and shall
have prepared financial reports for such periods as may be required
by the council; shall prepare and submit to the council an annual
budget; and shall exercise such other powers and perform such other
duties as may be required of him or her by ordinance or resolution
of the council not inconsistent with this charter. Unless otherwise
provided in this charter or in the general statutes, any administrative
power of appointment to be exercised by a first selectman shall be
exercised by the town manager. The council shall not diminish by ordinance,
vote or otherwise, the powers and duties of the manager, except those
powers and duties imposed on him or her by the council under the provisions
of this section.
The manager shall appoint all department heads
and other officers of the town except as otherwise specifically provided
by this charter and except employees in the offices of elected officers
or boards, and officers and boards appointed by the council. In lieu
of any appointment by the manager or any of his or her appointees
to any office under his or her jurisdiction the manager may, subject
to the approval of the council, perform the duties of any office under
his or her jurisdiction except those of the town treasurer; provided,
in case the town treasurer is absent or unable to act, the manager
may sign checks in accordance with the provisions of Chapter VII,
Section 8, of this charter.
To perform his or her duties during his or her
temporary absence or disability, the town manager may designate, by
a letter filed with the council clerk and the town clerk, a qualified
administrative officer of the town to serve as acting manager during
the temporary absence or disability of said town manager. If the manager
fails to make such designation, the council may by resolution appoint
an administrative officer of the town to perform the duties of the
manager until he or she returns or his or her disability ceases. If
the manager shall be absent from his or her duties for a period of
more than twenty-one consecutive days, the council shall appoint an
acting manager. If the manager dies, is removed, retires, or resigns,
the council may appoint an acting manager to serve until a manager
is appointed.