[Amended by Acts 2020, c. 245, approved 12-29-2020]
The select board shall appoint a town manager who shall serve
at the pleasure of the board. The town manager shall be especially
fitted by education, training and experience in public or business
administration to perform the duties of the office. Any vacancy in
the office of town manager shall be filled as soon as possible by
the select board. Pending the appointment of a town manager or the
filling of any vacancy, the select board shall appoint a suitable
person to perform the duties of the office. In the event of temporary
absence or disability of the town manager, the select board may designate
a qualified person to serve as acting town manager and to perform
the duties of the town manager during such temporary absence or disability.
The town manager shall receive such compensation for services as the
select board shall determine, but such compensation shall not exceed
the amount appropriated therefor by the town.
[Amended by Acts 2020, c. 245, approved 12-29-2020]
The town manager shall be the chief administrative officer of
the town, shall act as the agent for the select board and shall be
responsible to the select board for the proper operation of town affairs
for which the town manager is given responsibility under this act.
The town manager, under the policy direction of the select board,
shall supervise, direct and be responsible for the efficient administration
of all officers appointed by the town manager and their respective
departments and of all functions for which the town manager is given
responsibility, authority or control by this act, by by-law, by town
meeting vote, or by vote of the select board. The town manager shall
have the power to delegate, authorize or direct any subordinate or
employee of the town to exercise any power, duty or responsibility
which the office of town manager is authorized to exercise under this
act. All actions that are performed under such delegation shall be
deemed to be the actions of the town manager.
Except as otherwise provided by this act, the town manager shall
appoint, based upon merit and fitness alone, a director of finance,
a police chief, a fire chief, a town clerk, a treasurer-collector,
a director of assessing, a director of public works arid[1] all department heads and officers, subordinates, and employees
under the direct supervision of the town manager and officers, subordinates,
employees for whom no other method of selection is provided in this
act,, except employees of the school and health departments. The town
manager may appoint ad hoc committees as is deemed necessary.
[1]
Editor's Note: So in original.
The personnel management powers, duties and responsibilities
of the town manager shall include, but are not intended to be limited
to, the following:
(a)
To administer and to adopt personnel policies, practices, or rules
and regulations, any compensation plan and any related matters for
all municipal employees and to administer all collective bargaining
agreements, except for school department agreements, entered into
by the town.
(b)
To fix compensation of all town employees and officers appointed
by the Town Manager within the limits established by appropriation
and any applicable compensation plan and/or collective bargaining
agreements.
(c)
To be responsible for the negotiation of all contracts with town
employees over wages, and other terms and conditions of employment,
except employees of the school department; such contracts shall be
subject to the approval of the select board. The town manager may,
subject to the approval of the select board, employ special counsel
to assist in the performance of these duties.
[Amended by Acts 2020, c. 245, approved 12-29-2020]
The town manager, with the assistance of the finance director
and the treasurer-collector, shall be responsible for all the financial
management functions of the town, unless otherwise provided by this
act. Such functions shall include, but are not intended to be limited
to, the following:
(a)
To prepare and submit, after consultation with all town departments,
an annual operating budget and capital improvement program for all
town departments.
(b)
To insure that complete and full records of the financial and administrative
activity of the town are maintained and to render reports to the select
board as may be required.
[Amended by Acts 2020, c. 245, approved 12-29-2020]
(c)
To approve warrants for payments of town funds prepared by the town
accountant.
(d)
To be responsible for the purchase of all supplies, materials, and
equipment, except books and other educational materials for schools
and books and other media materials for libraries. The town manager
shall award all contracts for all town departments with the exception
of the school and health departments, subject to the approval of the
select board.
[Amended by Acts 2020, c. 245, approved 12-29-2020]
(e)
To keep the select board and finance committee fully informed as
to the financial condition of the town and to make recommendations
to the select board and to other elected and appointed officials as
the town manager deems necessary or expedient.
[Amended by Acts 2020, c. 245, approved 12-29-2020]
(j)
To prepare, annually, a financial forecast of town
revenue, expenditures and the general financial condition of the town.
The administrative powers, duties and responsibilities of the
town manager shall inelude,[1] but are not intended to be limited to, the following:
(a)
To attend all regular and special meetings of the select board, unless
excused.
[Amended by Acts 2020, c. 245, approved 12-29-2020]
(b)
To attend all sessions of the town meeting and to answer all questions
addressed to the town manager which are related to the warrant articles
and to matters under the general supervision of the town manager.
(c)
To administer either directly or through a person or persons supervised
by the town manager, in accordance with this act, provisions of general
or special laws, by-laws and other votes of the town meeting.
(d)
to investigate or inquire into the affairs of any town department
or office, under the supervision of the town manager.
(e)
to coordinate activities of all town departments, officers, boards
or commissions of the town.
(f)
To keep the select board fully informed as to the needs of the town
requiring action by them, or by the town, as the town manager deems
necessary or expedient.
[Amended by Acts 2020, c. 245, approved 12-29-2020]
(g)
To be responsible for the efficient use, maintenance and repair of
all town facilities, except those under the jurisdiction of the school
committee.
(h)
To develop and maintain a full and complete inventory of all town
owned real and personal property.
(i)
To perform such other duties as necessary, or as may be assigned
by this act, by-law, town meeting vote, or vote of the select board.
[Amended by Acts 2020, c. 245, approved 12-29-2020]
[1]
Editor's Note: So in original.
