All general laws, special laws, town ordinances, and rules and regulations of or pertaining to the town that are in force when any amendments to this charter takes effect, and not specifically or by implication repealed hereby, shall continue in full force and effect until amended or repealed, or rescinded by due course of law, or until they expire by their own limitation.
Except as otherwise provided in this charter, following a charter amendment all city agencies shall continue to perform their duties until reselected, or until successors to their respective positions are duly appointed or elected and qualified, or until their duties have been transferred and assumed by another agency as so provided.
All records, property and equipment whatsoever of any city agency, or part thereof, the powers and duties of which are assigned in whole or in part to another city agency pursuant to a charter amendment, shall be transferred forthwith to such agency.
Following a charter amendment affecting a particular town office, position or employment, any person holding such town office or position in the administrative service of the town, or any person holding full time employment under the town, shall subject to appropriation and the continued existence of such office, position or employment, retain the same and continue to perform the duties thereof until provision shall have been made for the performance of those duties by another person or agency unless sooner removed in accordance with this charter, applicable collective bargaining agreement, employment contract or ordinance; provided, however, no person in the permanent full time service of the town shall forfeit the employee's pay grade, or time in service of the town. Subject to appropriation and in accord with the provisions of any applicable collective bargaining agreement, all such persons shall be retained in a capacity as similar to the capacity in which they were serving at the time this charter is amended as is practicable, and any reduction in the personnel needs of the town shall be accomplished through a policy of attrition, unless specific provision is otherwise made.
All official bonds, recognizances, obligations, contracts, and other instruments entered into or executed by or to the town before the adoption of this charter, and all taxes, assessments, fines, penalties, forfeitures, incurred or imposed, due or owing to the town, shall be enforced and collected, and all writs, prosecutions, actions and cause of action, except as herein otherwise provided, shall continue without abatement and remain unaffected by the charter or any amendment thereto; and no legal act done by or in favor of the town shall be rendered invalid by reason of the adoption or amendment of this charter.
(a) 
Until such time as another provision is made in accordance with the provisions of the charter, for a different organization of the administration of the government of the city, the following temporary provisions shall be in effect.
(i) 
The city manager shall appoint the following city officers who shall serve at his or her pleasure: a city clerk, a city treasurer-collector, a personnel assistant, a superintendent of public works and an administrative assistant and other department heads or deputy city managers as may be authorized by the city council.
(ii) 
The city manager shall appoint the following officers, subject to the civil service law and rules: a fire chief, a police chief and a purchasing agent.
(iii) 
The city manager shall appoint the following city officers for a term of years: constables, members of a council on aging and the staff of such council, an animal inspector and a veterans' services director.
Provided, however, that to the extent that any of these offices set forth in this section are no longer required, this section shall not be interpreted to require the city manager to make appointments thereto.
(iv) 
The city manager shall appoint the following city officers, subject to the approval of the city council; and in accordance with the provisions of applicable laws, provided, however, if the city council shall fail to take any action on a proposed appointment by the city manager within thirty days following the date notice of such appointment is filed by the city manager with the city council, such appointment shall be deemed to have been confirmed: a city attorney, a licensing board, a board of assessors, a board of appeals, a planning board, a housing authority, a conservation commission, a board of health, and an election commission and other committees that may from time to time be authorized by the city council by ordinance.
With respect to the offices and multiple-member bodies identified in subsections 9-6(a)(iii) and 9-6(a)(iv), the city council may, by ordinance, set the term of office, and determine the size of any such multiple-member board; provided, however, that adoption of an ordinance hereunder shall not affect the term of any incumbent holding office at the time of the effective date of the ordinance.
By June 30, 2023, the city council shall adopt an ordinance establishing a Human Rights Commission, in accordance with the provisions of Section 2-11. Such ordinance shall address the composition, term, powers, and responsibilities of the commission.
By December 31, 2022, the city manager shall appoint a community engagement officer.