A. 
Adoption of personnel rules and regulations. The Board of Selectmen is authorized from time to time to adopt personnel rules and regulations which, subject to the review by Town Counsel, are to be used as employment guidelines for all employees of the Town except the School Department.
B. 
Suits and claims. The Selectmen shall have full authority, as agents of the Town, to prosecute, defend, or compromise all litigation to which the Town is a party unless it is otherwise specifically ordered by a vote of the Town at a meeting called for that purpose. However, settlement shall not be made by a payment of more than $10,000 in any case without a vote of the Town.
C. 
Executing deeds and other instruments. Whenever it shall be necessary to execute any deed conveying land or to execute any other instrument effectuating any vote of the Town, the same shall be executed by the Selectmen, or a majority of the Board of Selectmen, in the name of the Town, unless the Town shall otherwise vote in any special case.
The duties of the Moderator, not prescribed by statutes or these bylaws, shall be determined by the general rules of parliamentary law, so far as they may be adopted pursuant to Town Meetings.
The office of Town Treasurer shall be combined with the office of Town Tax Collector so that there shall be one office, that of Treasurer/Collector; and this office shall be filled by an annual appointment by the Board of Selectmen.
The Town shall indemnify elected or appointed officers or employees either serving full- or part-time, temporary or permanent, compensated or uncompensated, from personal financial loss and expenses, including legal fees and costs, if any, in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 arising out of any claim, action, award, compromise, settlement or judgment by reason of an intentional tort, or by reason of any act or omission which constitutes a violation of the civil rights of any person under any federal or state law, if such employee or official at the time of such intentional act or such act or omission was acting within the scope of his official duties or employment. No such employee or official shall be indemnified under this bylaw for violation of any civil rights if he/she acted in a grossly negligent, willful or malicious manner.
[Added 5-9-2016 ATM by Art. 7]
A. 
Appointment; term of office. The Town Administrator shall be appointed by the Board of Selectmen for a term not to exceed three years, as the Board may determine, and may be appointed for successive terms of office.
B. 
Compensation. The Board of Selectmen shall set the compensation for the Town Administrator, not to exceed an amount appropriated by the Town Meeting.
C. 
Qualifications.
(1) 
The Town Administrator shall be appointed on the basis of his/her educational, executive and administrative qualifications and experience.
(2) 
The Town Administrator shall devote full time to the duties of said office and shall not engage in any other business or occupation during the term of his employment by the Town.
(3) 
The Town Administrator shall hold no elective office during his/her tenure as Town Administrator, but the Board of Selectmen may appoint the Town Administrator to any nonelective office or position consistent with the responsibilities of the Town Administrator.
(4) 
The Board of Selectmen may from time to time establish additional qualifications for the office of Town Administrator. To the extent permitted by law, the terms of the Town Administrator's employment may be the subject of a written agreement between the parties setting forth the length of service, compensation, vacation, sick leave, benefits, and such other matters, excluding tenure, as are customarily included in an employment contract.
(5) 
Before entering upon his/her duties, the Town Administrator shall be sworn to the faithful and impartial performance thereof by the Town Clerk.
D. 
General duties. The Town Administrator shall:
(1) 
Be responsible for coordination of operational and strategic planning for the Town.
(2) 
Supervise and direct the efficient and responsible administration of all officers and employees appointed by the Town Administrator and/or Board of Selectmen and their respective offices and departments, and of all functions for which the Town Administrator is given responsibility by the Board of Selectmen, the laws of the Commonwealth, and bylaws passed by Town Meeting.
(3) 
Subject to any applicable provisions of the General Law relating thereto, may assume, temporarily, the duties of any office which the Administrator is authorized to fill by appointment.
(4) 
Be responsible for administration of the personnel plan, including personnel evaluation policies, practices, enforcement of labor contracts, labor relations, and state and federal equal opportunity law compliance functions of the Town.
(5) 
Keep full and complete records of the office and annually submit to the Board of Selectmen, unless requested to do so more frequently, a full written report of the operations of the office of Town Administrator. The Town Administrator may also prepare reports to boards and committees and for Town Meeting.
(6) 
Advise the Selectmen of all matters requiring action by them or the Town.
(7) 
Attend all regular and special meetings of the Board of Selectmen, unless excused, and shall have a voice but no vote in all of its discussions.
(8) 
Attend all sessions of the Town Meetings and shall answer all questions directed at him or her relating to Town affairs.
(9) 
Be responsible for the negotiation of all contracts which are subject to execution by the Board of Selectmen.
(10) 
Administer, either directly or through a person or persons appointed by him, in accordance with this bylaw, all provisions of general and special laws applicable to said Town, all bylaws, and all regulations established by the Board of Selectmen.
(11) 
Oversee the activities of the Town Counsel under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
(12) 
Receive and address citizens' complaints and problems.
(13) 
Be responsible for the management of all Town insurance programs.
(14) 
Represent the Town at local, state and regional meetings and undertake public relations activities under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
(15) 
Perform such other duties consistent with the office, as may be required of the Administrator by bylaw or by vote of the Board of Selectmen or Town Meeting.
(16) 
Have access to all municipal books, papers, and documents or information necessary for the proper performance of the duties of the Town Administrator. The Town Administrator may, without notice, cause the affairs of any division or department under the Administrator's supervision or the job-related conduct of any officer or employee thereof to be examined.
(17) 
To perform any other duties as are required to be performed by the Town Administrator by votes of the Town Meeting, or votes of the Board of Selectmen, or otherwise.
E. 
Financial duties. The Town Administrator shall:
(1) 
Be the Chief Administrative Officer of the Town and shall be responsible to the Board of Selectmen for the effective management of all Town affairs placed in the Administrator's charge by this bylaw, the Board of Selectmen or vote of Town Meeting and the implementation of Town policies placed in the Administrator's charge by the Board of Selectmen.
(2) 
Be responsible for the design and preparation of the municipal budget, filing grant applications, and controlling budget expenditures, including approval of the warrants for the payment of Town funds prepared by the Town Accountant. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Town Administrator shall have the following specific budgetary powers:
(a) 
The Town Administrator shall submit to the Board of Selectmen a written proposed budget for Town government for the ensuing fiscal year, including the budget as proposed by the School Department. The proposed budget shall detail all estimated revenue from all sources, and all proposed expenditures, including debt service for the previous, current, and ensuing years. It shall include proposed expenditures for both current operations and capital projects during the ensuing year, detailed by agency, department, committee, purpose, and position, together with proposed financing methods; and the proposed budget shall include estimated surplus revenue and free cash available at the close of the fiscal year, including estimated balances in special accounts. The Town may establish additional financial information and reports to be provided by the Town Administrator.
(b) 
The Town Administrator shall report on the probable amount required to be levied and raised by taxation to defray all expenses and liabilities of the Town together with an estimate of the tax rate necessary to raise such amount.
(c) 
The calendar dates on or before which the proposed budget, revenue statement, and tax rate estimate are to be submitted to the Board of Selectmen, and the budget presented by the Town Administrator to the Finance Committee, will be set by the Board of Selectmen with the advice of the Town Administrator.
(d) 
To assist the Town Administrator in preparing the proposed annual budget of revenue and expenditures, all boards, officers, and committees of the Town, including the School Committee, shall furnish all relevant information in their possession and submit to the Town Administrator, in writing, a detailed estimate of the appropriations required and available funds.
(e) 
The Town Administrator shall submit annually to the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee a five-year capital improvements program to include:
[1] 
A list of all capital improvements proposed to be undertaken during the next five years, together with supporting data;
[2] 
Cost estimates, methods of financing, and recommended time schedule;
[3] 
The estimated annual cost of operating and maintaining any facility to be constructed or acquired; and
[4] 
Other information that may be required from time to time.
F. 
Purchases by Town Administrator.
(1) 
The Town Administrator shall be the Chief Procurement Officer and be responsible for purchasing all supplies, materials and equipment, and shall award all contracts for all departments and activities of the Town under his/her supervision; and he/she shall make all purchases for departments and activities not under his/her supervision but not including the School Department, or library books and related printed and audio-visual materials for the public library. Purchases for departments and activities not under his/her supervision shall be made only upon and in accordance with a requisition duly signed by the head of any such department.
(2) 
All purchases or contracts shall be made in accordance with MGL c. 30B; MGL c. 30, § 39; and MGL c. 149, as amended; and any and all other applicable statutes.
(3) 
All contracts for services negotiated by the Town Administrator shall be ratified by a majority vote of the Board of Selectmen.
G. 
Powers to appoint.
(1) 
The Board of Selectmen may request that the Town Administrator recommend candidates to the Board of Selectmen for appointment to Town offices for which the Board is the appointing authority.
(2) 
The Town Administrator shall have the power to appoint on merit and fitness alone the Inspector of Wires and such other individual Town officers and employees, for whom appointment is not otherwise provided by the General Laws or Bylaws.
(3) 
The Town Administrator shall have the power to remove any official or employee appointed by the Town Administrator for cause after notice and, at the request of the employee or official, a hearing.
(4) 
The Town Administrator shall supervise the boards, committees, commissions and employees that the Administrator appoints, and, at the request of the Board of Selectmen, those appointed by the Board of Selectmen.
H. 
Removal of Town Administrator. The Board of Selectmen may terminate the Town Administrator for cause after notice and, at the request of the Town Administrator, a hearing.
[Added 5-9-2016 ATM by Art. 7]
A. 
Temporary absence. By letter filed with the Town Clerk, the Town Administrator shall recommend a qualified Town administrative officer or employee who, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of Town Administrator during a temporary absence. The Board of Selectmen may not revoke such designation until at least 10 working days have elapsed.
B. 
Acting Town Administrator. After the Town Administrator has been absent for at least 10 working days, the Board of Selectmen may appoint as an Acting Town Administrator any qualified Town administrative officer or employee or other qualified person to serve until the Town Administrator shall return. The term of service of an acting Town Administrator may not exceed six months, but one additional renewal not to exceed three months may be approved by vote of the Board of Selectmen. Compensation for such person shall be set by the Board of Selectmen.
C. 
Vacancy. Upon the creation of a vacancy due to the permanent absence or disability of the Town Administrator rendering the Administrator unable to perform the duties of the office or the removal or resignation of the Town Administrator, the Board of Selectmen shall forthwith fill the vacancy.
D. 
Powers and duties. The powers of a temporary or acting Town Administrator under Subsections A and B above shall be limited to matters not admitting of delay and shall include authority to make temporary, emergency appointments or designations to Town office or employment but not to make permanent appointments or designations.