5-1-1 
The Selectboard, by an affirmative vote of at least four members, shall appoint a Town Administrator for an indefinite term to serve at its pleasure. The Selectboard shall, by majority vote, set contract terms and a compensation package for the Town Administrator.
5-1-2 
In the event of vacancies on the Selectboard, the absence, or the inability to act, of not more than two members thereof, the remaining three members shall, by majority vote, make an interim Town Administrator appointment for a period not to exceed ninety days. Any person so appointed shall be eligible to be considered for appointment as Town Administrator.
5-1-3 
In selecting a Town Administrator, the Selectboard shall search for candidates by placing an advertisement in the International City Management Association Newsletter or similar professional publication and in at least two newspapers having statewide or regional circulation.
5-2-1 
The Town Administrator and interim Town Administrator shall be appointed on the basis of educational, executive and administrative qualifications and experience. The educational qualifications shall consist of at least a Bachelor's Degree, preferably in Public Administration, granted by an accredited, degree-granting college or university.
The professional experience shall include at least five years of prior, full-time, compensated, executive service in public or business administration. Alternatively, two years or more of professional experience and a Master's Degree in an appropriate discipline shall qualify any applicant.
5-3-1 
The Town Administrator shall be the chief administrative officer of the Town and shall be responsible for the direction and supervision of all employees, activities and departments placed by MGL, this Charter or bylaws under the control of the Selectboard.
5-3-2 
The Town Administrator shall devote full working time to the duties of the office; shall not become a candidate for, or hold, any elected office while employed by the Town; and shall not engage in any business activity, except with the written consent of the Selectboard. The Town Administrator shall:
(a) 
attend all meetings of the Selectboard, except when excused, and shall have the right to speak but not to vote;
(b) 
assemble, prepare and present to the Selectboard and the Finance Committee all annual operating, enterprise and capital budgets of the Town and be responsible for the development and annual revision of the Capital Improvement Plan;
(c) 
be responsible for seeing that the budget is administered as adopted by the Town Meeting and in accordance with MGL, this Charter, and bylaws;
(d) 
keep the Selectboard fully informed regarding all departmental operations, fiscal affairs, general problems, and administrative actions, and to this end shall submit periodic reports to the Selectboard;
(e) 
keep the Selectboard informed regarding the availability of federal, state and county funds and how such funds might relate to unmet long-range needs;
(f) 
prepare applications for grants;
(g) 
be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Town's personnel system, in accordance with the Personnel Bylaw;
(h) 
act as the chief procurement officer for the Town and be responsible for the purchasing for all Town functions and departments, except those for the School Department;
(i) 
inform the Selectboard regarding vacancies in Town offices and committees to be filled by the Selectboard and inform the Selectboard when there are vacancies in departments under the supervision and control of the Town Administrator;
(j) 
coordinate the activities among committees concerned with municipal planning, including the physical, economic, and environmental development of the Town;
(k) 
develop, keep, and annually update a full and complete inventory of all property of the Town, both real and personal;
(l) 
cause a postcard notice of the availability of the Warrant to be mailed to each voter’s postal address at least fourteen days prior to each Town Meeting and cause copies of the Warrant incorporating the recommendations thereto to be made available in multiple public places in the Town of Wellfleet including, but not limited to, the Wellfleet Post Office and the South Wellfleet Post Office, Wellfleet Town Hall, the Wellfleet Public Library, the Wellfleet Adult Community Center, and cause the Warrant to be posted on the Town’s website at least fourteen days prior to each Town Meeting.
[Amended 10-21-2024 STM by Art. 7[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This article was amended to provide an effective date of 7-1-2025.
(m) 
Deleted <4-29-2019>
(n) 
perform such other duties as may be required by this Charter, bylaws, or vote of the Selectboard.
(o) 
consult with the Board of Water Commissioners and implement when necessary any of their decisions concerning the Department of Public Works' function in relation to the Town's Municipal Water System.
5-4-1 
The Town Administrator shall appoint and, except as may otherwise be provided by MOL, this Charter, the Personnel Bylaw, or collective bargaining agreements, may suspend or remove any full-time, part-time or seasonal employees and inspectors, except those subject to Section 5-4-2 and those of the Library Trustees, Police Department, Fire Department and the School Committee.
5-4-2 
Subject to disapproval by the Selectboard within fourteen days of notice of the proposed appointment by the Town Administrator, the Town Administrator shall also have the power to appoint and, except as may otherwise be provided by MOL, this Charter, the Personnel Bylaw, contract or collective bargaining agreement, may suspend or remove:
(a) 
directors and department heads;
(b) 
the Town Accountant;
(c) 
the Harbormaster;
(d) 
the Herring Warden;
(e) 
the Assistant Town Administrator;
(f) 
the Town Clerk;
(g) 
the Town Treasurer; and
(h) 
the Town Collector.
5-4-3 
Notwithstanding any provision of this Charter, MGL, or bylaws to the contrary, one person may be appointed to serve as both Town Treasurer and Town Collector, and in such instance this shall be deemed to be a single position.
5-5-1 
The Town Administrator shall administer and enforce the Personnel Bylaw, Selectboard policies, collective bargaining agreements and bylaws.
5-5-2 
The Town Administrator shall cause to be written, approve, sign, and maintain in an up-to-date file the job description of all appointed positions under the direction of the Selectboard or Town Administrator. The Town Administrator shall maintain in said file an up-to-date listing of approved job descriptions of all appointed positions under the direction of other elected officers and committees.
5-8-1 
The Selectboard may initiate the removal of the Town Administrator by adopting a resolution to that effect, stating the reasons therefor, provided that no such resolution shall be adopted within sixty days following any Town election that has resulted in a change in the incumbents on the Board.
5-8-2 
The adoption of said resolution shall serve to suspend the Town Administrator for a period of not more than forty-five days, during which the salary shall continue to be paid. A copy of the resolution shall be delivered forthwith to the Town Administrator in person, or sent by registered mail to the Town Administrator's place of residence.
5-8-3 
Within ten days following the adoption of such resolution, the Town Administrator may file a written request for a hearing. If such a hearing is requested, the Selectboard shall schedule it within three weeks of such filing. The Selectboard shall advertise the hearing in a newspaper of local or regional circulation and shall cause notices citing the purpose, location, time, and date to be posted in the Town Hall and in two or more public places in the Town including the Wellfleet Post Office and the South Wellfleet Post Office.
5-8-3-1 
The Moderator, or a person designated by the Moderator, shall preside at any such hearing.
5-8-3-2 
At any such hearing, the reasons for the removal shall first be read aloud. The Town Administrator shall then have the right to respond, either personally or through counsel. The Selectboard and the Town Administrator shall have the right to call witnesses and to subpoena any and all Town records.
5-8-4 
Final removal of any Town Administrator shall be effected by the affirmative vote of at least three members of the Selectboard at an open public meeting of the Selectboard held within seven days of the Town Administrator's requested public hearing, pursuant to Section 5-8-3. If no hearing has been requested, final removal may be effected by an affirmative vote of at least three members of the Selectboard held not earlier than fourteen days after the vote initiating the removal. The salary of the Town Administrator shall continue to be paid for a period of thirty days after the vote effecting removal from office, unless otherwise provided for by contract.
5-8-5 
The Town Administrator shall provide the Selectboard with at least ninety days notice of an intended resignation, provided, however, that the Selectboard may, at its discretion, shorten or waive such requirement.
5-9-1 
When a vacancy arises in the office of the Town Administrator, the Selectboard shall begin the search process for a replacement within fourteen days and proceed to fill the vacancy as soon as possible.
5-10-1 
The Selectboard may designate a Town employee or other person to exercise the rights and perform the duties of the Town Administrator during any vacancy caused by temporary absence, suspension, removal, resignation or death. The appointment shall be for a period not to exceed ninety days, and it may be renewed, for additional periods not to exceed ninety days each.