Town of Townsend, MA Administrative Organization

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 only to express prohibitions in a general law or the provisions of this charter, the town meeting may, by by-law, reorganize, consolidate, create, merge, divide or abolish any town agency, in whole or in part; establish such new town agencies 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 agency may be discontinued, or unless this charter specifically so provides, assigned to any other.

(b)

Administrative Code – The Town Administrator, 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 Administrator 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 seven nor 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 (60) days following the date of adjournment of the town meeting at which the proposal is submitted unless the town shall, by a majority vote, vote to 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 Board of Selectmen may, through the administrative code, and subject only to express prohibitions in a general law, or this charter, reorganize, consolidate or abolish any town agency, in whole or in part; establish such new town agencies as is deemed necessary to the same extent as in 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 agency to another; provided, however, that no function assigned by this charter to a particular town agency may be discontinued or, unless this charter specifically so provides, assigned to any other.