There shall be a department of financial services
as hereinafter provided for in this chapter, a department of employee
services as hereinafter provided for in Chapter VIII, and such other
departments as may from time to time be created by the council by
ordinance after consultation with the town manager.
[Amended 11-3-1998]
The department of financial services shall be
responsible for the keeping of accounts and financial records, the
levy and collection of taxes, special assessments and other revenues,
the custody and disbursement of town funds and money, the control
over expenditures and such other powers and duties as may be required
by ordinance or resolution of the town council. Accounts shall be
kept by the department of financial services showing the financial
transactions for all departments and agencies of the town. Forms for
such accounts shall be prescribed by the director of department of
financial services with the approval of the town manager. Financial
reports shall be prepared for each quarter and for each fiscal year
and for such other periods as may be required by the town manager.
(a)Â
The director of the department of financial services:
powers and duties. The director of the department of financial services
shall be the town treasurer. Subject to the approval of the manager,
he or she shall appoint and may remove a purchasing agent. Subject
to the approval of the manager and subject to such rules and regulations
as may be adopted pursuant to the merit system provisions of Chapter
VIII of this charter, he or she shall appoint and may remove a tax
collector. Subject to the approval of the manager, the director of
the department of financial services may perform the duties of any
office under his or her supervision except that of the tax collector
and may consolidate one or more such offices under one person.
(b)Â
The tax collector and treasurer shall have the powers
and duties imposed by law on such officers and shall have such other
powers and duties as the council may prescribe, provided the treasurer
shall, in addition, be the agent of the town deposit fund.
(c)Â
The purchasing agent of the town shall contract for
and purchase all supplies, materials, equipment and other commodities
(hereinafter "goods") and contractual services required by any department,
agency, board or commission of the town, except that he or she shall
not be required to purchase specialized goods and contractual services
for the purpose of instruction by the board of education (hereinafter
"instructional materials and services") and specialized library materials
and services, including, but not limited to, information services
(hereinafter "library materials and services") provided for public
and staff access by the library board. All goods and contractual services,
other than instructional and library materials and services, shall
be procured in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and
otherwise pursuant to ordinances adopted by the Town Council. In addition
to such other matters as may be addressed by the Council, said ordinances
shall require all of the town's departments, agencies, boards
and commissions (including the board of education and library board)
to work together to identify common needs and establish standard specifications
for the purchase of goods and contractual services which are commonly
used by more than one department, agency, board or commission. For
the purposes of this chapter, contractual services shall include,
but not be limited to, all construction, maintenance, repair and technology
services and similar services, but shall exclude professional services.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent the town purchasing
agent from serving, to the extent requested, as the purchasing agent
for all requirements of the board of education and library board.
(d)Â
All purchases made by the purchasing agent shall be
pursuant to requisitions signed by the head of the department, office
or agency or chairperson of the board or commission, or a responsible
representative appointed by him or her. The Town Council shall establish,
by ordinance, a set of procedures regarding the purchase of goods
and contractual services excluding professional services, or instructional
and library materials or services. Said procedures shall be designed
to obtain the best possible value for necessary goods and services
and shall take advantage of all prudent purchasing methods and opportunities
available in the marketplace including the open, competitive bidding
process where appropriate.
(e)Â
The procurement of professional services shall be
in accordance with rules and regulations established by ordinance.
(f)Â
The purchasing agent shall be responsible for the
disposition of surplus real estate owned by the town but only after
the town council has determined by resolution that such real estate
is surplus, and not reserved for municipal purposes, except that the
council, by a two-thirds majority of its entire membership, shall
have the authority to determine the disposition of any individual
parcel of real estate. Said authority may only be exercised after
the public has been given a reasonable opportunity to comment on any
proposed disposition.
