[Amended by c. 57, Acts of 2005]
A. There shall be a Town Collector, elected, whose term of office shall
be three (3) years.
B. The Town Collector shall have all of the powers and duties conferred
upon the office by this Charter, the Town By-laws, votes of Town Meetings,
and the General Laws of the Commonwealth.
[Added by c. 58, Acts of 2005; amended by c. 331, Acts
of 2020]
The board of selectmen by an affirmative vote of not less than
4 members shall appoint a town administrator for a term of not more
than 3 years and may extend such appointment for additional terms
of not more than 3 years.
(a) The town administrator shall be appointed solely on the basis of
executive, administrative and municipal experience. His education
should consist of a bachelor's degree in public or business administration
or related field; a master's degree in public administration is preferred.
In the absence of either degree, a minimum of 10 years actual work
experience shall be required and shall consist of at least 5 years
of progressively responsible experience in municipal management, 3
years of which shall be as a chief administrative or assistant administrator
in a municipal organization. He shall not have served in an elective
office in or for the town of Rockland for at least 12 months before
his appointment.
(b) The town administrator shall devote full time to the office and shall
not hold any other public office, elected or appointed, nor engage
in any other business, occupation, or profession during their term
of office, unless the board of selectmen approves the action in advance
in writing. The town may from time to time, by by-law establish additional
qualifications as it considers necessary and appropriate.
(c) The town administrator shall execute a bond in favor of the town
of Rockland for the faithful performance of his duties in such sum
and with such surety or sureties as may be fixed by the board of selectmen.
The town shall pay the cost of the bond.
(d) The board of selectmen may appoint an assistant town administrator
to perform duties assigned by the town administrator. The assistant
town administrator shall perform the duties of the town administrator
in the town administrator's absence.
[Added by c. 58, Acts of 2005]
(a) The board of selectmen by
affirmative vote of not less than 2/3 of its members may suspend or
remove the town administrator from office. If the board of selectmen
affirmatively votes to suspend or remove the town's administrator,
the board shall give at least 60 days notice as to the effective date
of his suspension or termination, or provide 60 days of severance
pay, or a combination of both notice and severance pay equivalent
to at least 60 days. At least 30 days before the proposed suspension
or termination becomes effective the board of selectmen shall file
a preliminary written resolution with the town clerk setting forth
in detail the specific reason for the proposed suspension or termination.
A copy of the resolution shall be delivered to the town administrator.
The town administrator may within 10 days of service of the resolution,
reply in writing to the resolution and may request a public hearing.
If the town administrator so requests, the board of selectmen shall
hold a public hearing not earlier than 20 days nor later than 30 days
after the filing of the request. After the public hearing, if any,
otherwise at the expiration of 30 days following the filing of the
preliminary resolution, the selectmen may suspend or terminate the
town administrator from duty. In the event the town administrator
is charged with a criminal act, alleged to have been perpetrated while
performing his job, suspension without pay is immediate and if the
town administrator is not exonerated of the charges, termination is
immediate and no notice or severance shall be provided. Nothing contained
herein shall limit the authority of the board of selectmen to suspend
or terminate the town administrator as provided by state, federal
or local law.
[Amended by c. 331, Acts
of 2020]
(b) If the office of town administrator is vacant, as a result of death,
removal, resignation, or otherwise, or the town administrator is on
a leave of absence exceeding 2 weeks, the board of selectmen by affirmative
vote of at least 3 members, shall appoint a qualified town administrator
officer, or employee to serve as acting town administrator. The acting
town administrator shall receive compensation as set by the affirmative
vote of at least 3 selectmen, but shall not exceed the rate of compensation
approved for the town administrator being replaced. The appointment
of the acting town administrator shall not exceed a 4-month period.
[Added by c. 58, Acts of 2005]
(a) The town administrator shall be the administrative officer of the
town of Rockland, reporting directly to the board of selectmen and
acting as its agent. He shall be responsible for the effective and
professional administration of the day-to-day affairs of the town
in the absence of the board of selectmen as described herein.
(b) The town administrator shall administer this charter, either directly
or through a person or persons appointed by the board of selectmen.
(c) The town administrator shall be responsible for the proper administration
and development of the annual operating budget process.
(d) The town administrator shall recommend to the board of selectmen
strategic plans and objectives for mitigation or other purposes. He
shall have prepared multi-year forecasts on revenues and expenditures
for use in analyzing financial impacts in collective bargaining issues,
insurance costs, and other long-term costs. He shall recommend to
the board of selectmen, for their approval, debt management, and capital
planning policies. He shall further recommend policies and long-range
goals to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of town government.
(e) The town administrator shall keep the board of selectmen fully informed
regarding all departmental operations, fiscal affairs, general problems,
and administrative actions. He shall keep the board of selectmen and
the finance committee informed as to the financial condition and the
needs of the town.
(f) The town administrator shall act as the town's insurance coordinator.
He shall be responsible for ensuring that all pertinent policies are
in effect, see that adequate insurance coverage is provided, ensure
that claims are properly processed, conduct cost benefit analyses
on existing policies and propose changes. He shall render an annual
report to the board of selectmen on all claims made and losses sustained.
(g) The town administrator shall act as grant coordinator for the town.
He shall collect and distribute information concerning grants, establish
uniform procedures for grant applications, prepare or assist in developing
grant proposals and shall monitor all town grants to ensure fiscal
and program compliance.
(h) The town administrator, in cooperation with other town officials
selected by him, shall establish policies, procedures and guidelines
for town procurements in accordance with applicable federal, state,
and local laws. He shall keep an inventory of the real and fixed assets
of the town.
(i) The town administrator shall be responsible for the approval of the
purchase of all supplies, materials, equipment, and other services,
for departments or agencies under the jurisdiction of the board of
selectmen.
(j) The town administrator in the absence of the board of selectmen shall
act as agent of the board of selectmen in coordinating activities,
budgets, and day to day operations of the town departments, boards,
committees, and commissions that come under the jurisdiction of the
board of selectmen. He shall coordinate these activities with officers
and boards elected by the voters, keeping all informed of ongoing
activities and issues.
(k) The town administrator shall plan, organize and supervise the operational
audits of the activities of town departments to evaluate the efficiency
of resource utilization and the effectiveness of governmental services.
Audit areas may include staffing, scheduling, vehicle management,
and any other topic requested by the board of selectmen.
(l) The town administrator shall participate in the collective bargaining
process and see that the provisions of the collective bargaining agreements
are enforced in departments under his jurisdiction.
(m) The town administrator shall assist the board of selectmen in recruitment
and selection of department heads under their jurisdiction.
(n) The town administrator shall ensure that the town maintains a professional
personnel system by monitoring the effectiveness of policies, procedures
and practices as required by law, in accordance with proper personnel
practices. He shall ensure that the recruitment, selection, promotion,
transfer, discipline, and removal of employees are conducted in accordance
with applicable state and federal laws, and with personnel by-laws
and policies adopted pursuant to the same. He shall coordinate personnel
administration with the personnel board.
(o) In the absence of the board of selectmen, and at its direction, he
shall perform public relations functions for the board of selectmen
by presenting the town's position of issues, responding to citizens
complaints, preparing press releases, and representing the board at
conferences, hearings, and meetings with county, state, and federal
agencies. He shall act as its liaison to business, industrial and
community groups.
(p) The town administrator shall be responsible for the use and maintenance
of all town facilities and equipment under the jurisdiction of the
board of selectmen.
(q) The town administrator shall attend all regular and special meetings
of the board of selectmen and have voice but no vote in all meetings.
He shall attend all regular and special sessions of the town meeting
to answer questions and provide information. He shall oversee the
preparation of the annual town report and town warrants.
(r) The town administrator shall see that the General Laws, the Rockland
town charter and Rockland town by-laws, and the votes of town meeting,
and votes of the board of selectmen are carried out and performed.
(s) The town administrator shall perform all other duties as may be required
by the board of selectmen.