(a) 
Elective Town Offices. The Town offices to be filled by the voters shall be the Select Board, School Committee, Moderator, Trustees of the Harvard Public Library, Trustees of the Warner Free Lecture, and other officers or representatives to regional authorities or districts as may be established by law or by inter-local agreement, who shall also be filled by ballot at Town elections.
(b) 
Town Election. The annual election by ballot of elective Town offices, and voting on any questions required by law to be placed upon the official ballot shall take place on a date to be determined by the Select Board during the months of February through June after the Annual Town Meeting held for the transaction of other business.
(c) 
Eligibility. Any voter shall be eligible to hold any elective Town office unless specifically prohibited by law. To be placed on the ballot, eligible candidates shall be chosen by Town Caucus or shall submit nomination papers to the Town Clerk that contain at least 25 signatures of Harvard registered voters, in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws.
(d) 
Compensation. Elected Town officers shall receive such compensation for their services as may be appropriated at the Annual Town Meeting for such purpose.
(e) 
Filling of Vacancies.
1. 
Moderator. If a vacancy in the said office occurs during any term, it may be filled by the voters of the Town.
2. 
Elected Boards. If there is a failure to elect a member of a Town agency, or if a vacancy occurs in the membership of an elected agency, the vacancy shall be filled as follows:
i) 
Select Board. If there is a failure to elect a member of the Select Board, or if a vacancy occurs in the membership of the Select Board, the remaining members of the Select Board may call a special election to fill the vacancy or shall call the special election upon the written request of at least 20 percent of the total number of registered voters of the Town, provided that such request is filed with the Select Board not less than 100 days prior to the date of the next annual election.
ii) 
School Committee, Trustees of the Harvard Public Library and Trustees of the Warner Free Lecture Society. The remaining members of the agency shall give notice of the vacancy to the Select Board and to the public. The Select Board and the remaining members of the elected board shall, by joint vote, not less than one week after notice of the date on which the vote is to be taken, fill the vacancy until the next Town election. The affirmative votes of the majority of the persons entitled to vote on the vacancy shall be necessary for the election.
3. 
Appointed Agency Positions. Vacancies in any volunteer positions will be filled by the Select Board. The agency with the vacancy may make a recommendation to the Select Board to fill the vacancy. Positions appointed by the Moderator will be filled by the Moderator.
(a) 
Composition, Term of Office. There shall be a Select Board consisting of five members elected for terms of three years each, arranged so that the terms of office of as nearly an equal number of members as is possible shall expire each year.
(b) 
Powers and Duties. The executive powers of the Town shall be vested in the Select Board, which shall be deemed to be the chief executive office of the Town. The Select Board shall possess all of the executive powers that a Select Board may possess and exercise, except those powers and duties assigned by this Charter, bylaw, or other Town Meeting vote to the Town Administrator or other body acting on behalf of the Select Board. The Select Board shall:
1. 
Lead the Executive Branch in matters of policy and budget:
i) 
Serve as the chief policy making agency of the Town.
ii) 
Be responsible for the formulation and promulgation of policy goals, including long-term policy goals and immediate and specific initiatives to be followed by all Town agencies serving under it.
iii) 
Coordinate elected and appointed Town officers and agencies.
iv) 
Conduct a fully integrated, collaborative Strategic Planning Process incorporating the Master Plan, Capital Investment Plan, and Finance Committee Five-Year Plan. Develop a statement of the goals of the Select Board and a charge to the other Town agencies within 60 days after Annual Town Meeting.
v) 
Participate in the Master Planning process as defined by Massachusetts General Laws and oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the Master Plan.
vi) 
Prepare and submit the budget of the Town as set forth in Article 6. The budget shall support the articulated policy goals and initiatives. Budget preparation shall begin in September/October annually with a joint meeting of the Select Board, School Committee, Finance Committee, Capital Planning and Investment Committee, Planning Board, Board of Library Trustees, Board of Health, Conservation Commission, Community Preservation Committee, Park and Recreation Commission, and others as deemed necessary by the Select Board. A review of the proposed budget shall occur in January with final presentation to the Town for approval at the Annual Town Meeting.
2. 
Manage the Executive Branch:
i) 
Employ best practices for project management, planning, design, and tasks necessitating the collaboration of multiple Town agencies.
ii) 
Communicate through regular citizen forums and provide an annual report on the state of the Town. This report shall be presented to the Annual Town Meeting and shall evaluate the progress made on the goals established by the Strategic Planning Process. The report shall also include a summary of the Town's financial position, economic development and capital projects, as well as any other items that will impact the Town within the next several years.
iii) 
Recruit, appoint, and support volunteers. Appointments to the following boards shall be by an affirmative vote of no less than four members of the Select Board: Planning Board, Board of Health, Cemetery Commission, Community Preservation Committee. Constable. Historical Commission, Park and Recreation Commission, and Tree Warden. Agencies should represent a cross-section of the Town as a whole.
iv) 
Guide and assist Town agencies in fulfilling their charge. Periodically communicate with volunteers requesting feedback on policy initiatives.
v) 
Award and execute all contracts for services and supplies for all departments and agencies of the Town, other than the School Committee; provided, however, that the Select Board, at its sole discretion, may delegate this authority to any Town officer or agency.
vi) 
Plan for the maintenance of governmental buildings and infrastructure, including school buildings and infrastructure if so requested by the School Committee.
3. 
Act to further the goals and values of the Town as set forth in the preamble to this Charter.
4. 
Implement the Charter.
(c) 
Day-to-Day Administration. Other than in the case of an emergency, nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize any member of the Select Board, nor a majority of its members, to become involved in the day-to-day administration of any Town agency.
(d) 
Licensing Authority. The Select Board shall be the Licensing Board of the Town and may issue licenses, make reasonable rules and regulations regarding the issuance of licenses, and attach such conditions and restrictions thereto as it deems to be in the public interest; provided, however, that such rules, regulations, conditions, and restrictions are not incompatible with applicable law. The Select Board shall seek opinion and input from citizens and Town agencies as to the impact of any license. The Select Board shall enforce the laws relating to all businesses for which it issues licenses. The Select Board may delegate its licensing authority unless specifically prohibited by law.
(e) 
Appointing Authority. The Select Board shall appoint the Town Administrator, Town Counsel, Finance Director/Town Accountant, Town Constable, all members of non-elected voluntary Town agencies and other non-elected agencies as required by Massachusetts General Laws, with the exception of those positions appointed by the Moderator. The Select Board shall also appoint a police chief and a fire chief. The police chief shall serve under M.G.L. ch.41, § 97A. The fire chief shall serve under M.G.L. ch.48, § 42.
(f) 
Investigations. The Select Board may investigate the affairs of the Town and the conduct of any Town agency, including any doubtful claims against the Town.
(a) 
The Harvard School Committee provides public education, pre-K through high school, and related services to the Town of Harvard. The School Committee shall consist of five members elected for terms of three years each, the terms being arranged so that the terms of office of as nearly an equal number of members as possible expire each year. The term of office for the five members will begin on the first business day in July following their election.
[Amended 10-16-2021 ATM by Art. 13]
(b) 
The Harvard School Committee shall have all of the powers and duties that are given to School Committees under the constitution, laws, and regulations of the Commonwealth and additional powers and duties as may be authorized by bylaw or other vote of the Town Meeting.
(a) 
Term of Office. There shall be a Town Moderator elected for a term of three years.
[Amended 5-14-2022 ATM by Art. 27]
(b) 
Powers and Duties. The Town Moderator shall be the presiding officer of the Town Meeting and shall regulate its proceedings and perform other duties as may be provided by law, this Charter, bylaw, or other Town Meeting vote.
(c) 
Appointment of the Finance Committee. The Town Moderator shall appoint a Finance Committee that shall consist of seven residents, none of whom shall be a Town officer elected by ballot or an appointed officer or employee receiving a salary, who shall perform their duties without salary or compensation. The terms shall be for a period of three years and shall be arranged in order that the terms of as nearly an equal number of members as possible shall expire each year. The Moderator shall exercise due care in the process of selecting members to ensure that the committee represents a cross section of the Town as a whole.
(d) 
Appointment of the Capital Planning and Investment Committee. The Town Moderator shall appoint two members of a Capital Planning and Investment Committee.
(e) 
Other Appointments. The Town Moderator shall make other appointments provided for by law, this Charter, or bylaw.
(a) 
Composition, Term of Office. There shall be a Board of Trustees of the Harvard Public Library, which shall consist of six members, each serving for a term of three years. The terms shall be arranged in order that the terms of two members shall expire each year.
(b) 
Powers and Duties. The Trustees of the Harvard Public Library shall have all of the powers and duties that are given to Boards of Trustees under the constitution, laws, and regulations of the Commonwealth. Trustees shall have the authority to hire a director and other library employees. Employees shall be governed by the personnel policies of the Town.
(a) 
Composition. Term of Office. There shall be a Board of Trustees of the Warner Free Lecture Society that shall consist of six members, each serving for a term of three years. The terms shall be arranged in order that the terms of two members shall expire each year.
(b) 
Powers and Duties. The Trustees of the Warner Free Lecture Society shall have powers and duties in accordance with its declaration of Trust.
The term of service for appointed members of volunteer Town agencies is three years, unless defined otherwise for a specific agency. Terms shall be arranged so that the terms of service of one-third of the members, as nearly as possible, expire each year. Terms expire at the time of the Annual Town Election held after their appointment, unless an officer or member is terminated sooner by vote of the Select Board.