[Amended 10-24-2006 ATM, Art. 23]
There shall be a Board of Selectmen consisting of five members elected for terms of three years each, so arranged that the term of office of as nearly an equal number of members as is possible shall expire each year. [Charter Section 3-2(a)]
The executive powers of the town shall be vested in the Board of Selectmen which shall be deemed to be the chief executive office of the town. The Board of Selectmen shall have all of the executive powers it is possible for a Board of Selectmen to have and to exercise. The Board of Selectmen shall serve as the chief policy making agency of the town. The Board of Selectmen shall be responsible for the formulation and promulgation of policy directives and guidelines to be followed by all town agencies serving under it and, in conjunction with other elected town officers and multiple member bodies to develop and promulgate policy guidelines designed to bring all town agencies into harmony. Provided however, nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize any member of the Board of Selectmen, nor a majority of such members, to become involved in the day-to-day administration of any town agency. It is the intention of this provision that the Board of Selectmen shall act only through the adoption of board policy guidelines which are to be implemented by officers and employees serving under it. [Charter Section 3-2(b)]
The Board of Selectmen shall be a licensing board for the town and shall have a power to issue licenses as otherwise authorized by law, to make all necessary rules and regulations regarding the issuance of such licenses and to attach conditions and to impose restrictions on any such license as it may issue as it deems to be in the public interest, and to enforce all laws relating to all businesses for which it issues any license. [Charter Section 3-2(c)]
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint a Town Manager, Constables, Registrars of Voters (but not the Town Clerk) and other election officers, the members of the Board of Appeals, Board of Health, Conservation Commission, Historical Commission, Industrial Development Finance Authority, Personnel Board, Board of Assessors, and other members of multiple member bodies, the functions of which do not involve direct operating responsibilities but are primarily policy making or advisory in nature, and other individuals who are to serve as representatives of the town to the governing or advisory bodies of area, regional or district authorities. [Charter Section 3-2(d)]
The Board of Selectmen may make investigations and may authorize the Town Manager to investigate the affairs of the Town and the conduct of any Town agency, including any doubtful claims against the Town. The report of the results of such investigation shall be placed on file in the office of the Board of Selectmen and a report summarizing the results of such investigation shall be printed in the next annual town report. [Charter Section 3-2(e)]
The Board of Selectmen has authority in the name of the town to prosecute, defend or compromise any and all claims or suits to which the town is a party and to employ counsel in relation claims and suits whenever in its judgment it is reasonably necessary, except actions otherwise provided for by statute or by bylaw. (§§ 8-1)
The Board of Selectmen has general direction or management of the property and affairs of the town in all matters not otherwise provided for so far as permitted by law. (§ 8-2)
The Board of Selectmen, acting through the Town Manager, is responsible for the overall supervision of the Department of Public Works and for establishing priorities and policies to govern the operation of the Department. The Board of Selectmen shall establish and set the fees or charges for all services provided by the Department of Public Works.
The Board of Selectmen has the authority to adopt, amend, alter and repeal rules and regulations governing the use of streets and ways and the operation of vehicles in accordance with the provisions of MGL c. 40, §§ 22 and 22D and Chapter 6 of these bylaws.