All the laws of the Commonwealth, special laws, town by-laws votes, rules and regulations of or pertaining to the town which are in force when the charter takes effect and which are not specifically or by implication repealed directly or indirectly hereby, shall continue in full force and effect until amended or rescinded by due course of law or until they expire by their own limitation.
All town agencies shall continue to perform their duties until reappointed, reelected, or until successors to their respective positions are duly appointed or elected, or their duties have been transferred and assumed by another town agency in accordance with the provisions of this charter.
Any person holding an office or position in the administrative service of the town, or any person serving in the employment of the town shall retain such office or position and shall continue to perform their duties until provisions shall have been made in accordance with the charter of the performance of the said duties by another person or agency.
All records, property and equipment whatsoever of any office, department, or agency of part thereof, the powers and duties of which are assigned in whole or in part to another office or agency shall be transferred forthwith to the office, department or agency to which such powers and duties are assigned.
This charter shall take effect upon its adoption by the voters of Townsend, except as is hereinafter provided:
(a) 
Forthwith following the election at which this charter is adopted each town agency shall designate some person to represent it at all sessions of the town meeting to be held in this calendar year, in accordance with the provisions of section 2-8.
(b) 
Until such time as the town meeting may act, by by-law, to amend repeal or revise them, the following provisions shall have the force of town by-laws:
(1) 
Date of Town Meetings – The annual town meeting shall be held according to by-law.
(2) 
Date of Town Elections – The annual town election for the election of town officers shall be held according to by-law.
(3) 
Town Administrative Organization – Until such time as a different form of organization shall be provided, in accordance with the provisions of article 5 of this charter, the following outline of organization shall be operative:
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint:
a Town Administrator;
a Town Accountant and an Assistant Town Accountant;
Constables;
a Town Counsel;
a Gas Inspector and alternate;
a Wire Inspector and alternate;
a Plumbing Inspector and alternate;
a Building Commissioner and alternate;
the Zoning Board of Appeals;
the Conservation Commission;
the Historic District Commission;
the Personal Board (Town By-Law);
the Board of Registrars (except Town Clerk who serves by law) and other Election Officials;
a Police Chief, and Police Department and Communication Department;
a Keeper of Lock Up;
Crossing Guards;
a Fire Chief and the Fire Department;
a Hazardous Waste Coordinator;
a Tree Warden and Town Forest Committee;
the Ambulance Department;
a Highway Superintendent and Highway Department;
the Nashoba Valley Technical High School Committee;
Inspector of Animals;
Animal Control Officer and an Assistant Animal Control Officer;
Townsend Cultural Counsel;
Band Concert Committee;
Computer Committee;
Council on Aging;
Industrial Development Committee;
Cable Television Committee;
Veterans Agent;
Land Use Coordinator;
Janitor;
Town Properties Committee (two members at large);
Abrams S. French Fund Committee;
American Flag Committee;
Parking Clerk.
(c) 
All town officers and all members of all boards, commissions and committees who have heretobefore been elected and who will henceforth be appointed under the provisions of this charter, shall serve for the balance of the term for which they were elected, (subject of their retirement or resignation) but their successors shall be appointed.
(d) 
Forthwith following the election at which this charter is adopted a special committee of seven members shall be appointed by the Board of Selectmen to revise the by-laws of the town in order to fully implement the provisions of this charter. The said committee shall submit a report and recommendations to the town meeting for adoption by a warrant article a session of the town meeting held not more than one year following the election at which the charter is adopted. At least two members of the said committee shall have been members of the charter commission appointed by the moderator.
(e) 
It is recognized that in the best long-range interest of the Town of Townsend, that such assumption must be gradual and on a phased-in basis.
(f) 
The provisions of section 6-2 of the charter shall not become effective until the year following the year in which the charter is adopted.
and shall continue in such office, without further appointment, but subject to removal as provided in section 7-8.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: So in original.
(g) 
Until such time as the town meeting may act, by by-law, to adopt another manual or guide, the town meeting shall be governed by the rules of procedure in the accepted edition of "Town Meeting Time, A Handbook of Parliamentary Law," published by the Massachusetts Moderators Association.
(h) 
The report of the Finance Committee shall be printed and copies shall be made available for distribution to every person who shall request a copy thereof at the office of the Town Clerk. The reports shall be available at least seven days before the annual town meeting is scheduled to convene.
(a) 
The elected incumbent in an office experiencing a term change shall continue to serve for the balance of the term for which they were elected. Upon the expiration of that term of office, the position will conform to the revised number of years specified within this charter.
(b) 
When a charter amendment changing a position from elected to appointed becomes effective, the elected incumbent shall continue to hold the office and perform the duties thereof until the expiration of the term for which that individual was elected or sooner vacating of such office; provided, however, that if such charter amendment is subject to approval by the voters of the town prior to taking effect, any individual elected to an office or board at the same election at which a charter amendment changing the manner of selection for said office is considered shall hold office and perform the duties thereof only until an appointment is made to that office.
[Added 1-16-2014 by Chapter 4 of the Acts of 2014]