The select board, by an affirmative vote of at least 4 members,
shall appoint a town manager to serve an indefinite term and shall
fix the compensation for such person within the amount appropriated
by the town. The town manager shall not have served in an elective
office in the town government for at least 12 months prior to the
appointment.
The town manager shall be appointed on the basis of education
and executive and administrative qualifications. The educational qualifications
shall consist of at least a bachelor's degree, granted by an
accredited degree-granting college or university. Professional experience
shall include at least 5 years of prior full-time compensated executive
or administrative service in public or private business administration.
Alternatively, at least 2 years of prior full-time compensated executive
service in public or business administration and a master's degree
in an appropriate discipline shall qualify an applicant.
The town manager shall appoint, on the basis of merit and fitness
alone, and may remove, except as otherwise provided by the General
Laws, this charter, personnel by-laws or collective bargaining agreements
that may be applicable, a town treasurer/collector, a police chief,
a fire chief, a town accountant and all other department heads, officers,
subordinates and employees, full- and part-time, excepting that:
(a) Employees of the school department and the library shall be appointed
by their respective department heads;
(b) The police chief and fire chief shall appoint employees of their
respective departments subject to the approval of the town manager;
(c) The town manager shall appoint personnel in all other departments
after consultation with supervisors and department heads to whom such
personnel report or are assigned; and
(d) All appointments made or approved by the town manager shall become
effective no later than the fifteenth day following the day on which
notice of the proposed appointment is filed with the select board,
unless 3 members of the select board shall vote to reject such an
appointment within such period or shall sooner approve it.
The town manager may recommend to the select board and implement,
with the select board's approval, reorganization of any department
or position placed by this charter under the town manager's direction
or supervision, except as otherwise provided by General Laws or this
charter.
Warrants or vouchers for payment of town funds prepared and
signed by the town accountant in accordance with General Laws shall
be submitted to the town manager after review and approval by the
director of municipal finance, if any, and approval of the town manager
shall be sufficient authorization for payment by the town treasurer/collector.
At least 3 members of the select board shall approve all warrants
or vouchers in the town manager's absence or in the event that
office is vacant.
When a vacancy arises in the office of the town manager, the
select board shall advertise the vacancy at once. The board shall
fill the vacancy as quickly as possible, but in any case, within 6
months. The select board in its search for a town manager shall advertise
in the International City/County Management Association newsletter
or similar professional publication and in at least 2 newspapers having
state-wide or multistate regional circulation.
During a vacancy caused by suspension, removal, resignation
or death of the town manager, the select board shall designate, within
10 days of the vacancy, a town employee or other person to exercise
the powers and perform the duties of the town manager. This designation
shall be for a period not to exceed 90 days, and it may be renewed
as necessary, not more than twice for additional periods not to exceed
90 days each.