The Town Manager, hereinafter referred to as "Manager," shall be appointed solely upon the basis of his executive and administrative qualifications. He need not be a resident of the Town or State.
The Manager shall be the Chief Administrative Officer of the Town. He shall be responsible to the Council for the administration of all Town affairs placed in his charge by or under this Charter. Subject to the approval of the Council, he may also exercise and perform the powers and duties of one or more Administrative Officers instead of appointing some other person or persons to such posts, but he shall not be entitled thereby to receive more than his compensation as Manager alone. He shall have the following powers and duties:
(a) 
He shall appoint, and when necessary for the good of the Town, suspend or remove all Town employees and appointive administrative officers provided for by or under this Charter, except as otherwise provided by law or by this Charter. He may authorize any administrative officer who is subject to his direction and supervision to exercise these powers with respect to subordinates of that officer.
(b) 
He shall see that all laws, ordinances, the provisions of this Charter, and acts and directives of the Council are enforced and executed.
(c) 
He shall direct and supervise the administration of all departments, offices and agencies of the Town, except as otherwise provided by this Charter.
(d) 
He shall attend all Council meetings and shall have the right to take part in discussion but may not vote.
(e) 
He shall prepare, submit to the Council, and make available to the public as of the end of the fiscal year, a complete report on the finances and administrative activities of the Town for the preceding year.
(f) 
He shall keep the Council advised of the financial condition and future needs of the Town and to make such recommendations concerning the affairs of the Town as he deems desirable. He shall make such other reports as the Council may require concerning the operation of Town departments, offices and agencies subject to his direction and supervision.
(g) 
He shall perform such other duties as are specified in this Charter, or which may be assigned to him by the Council.
By letter filed with the Town Clerk, the Manager shall designate, subject to the approval of the Council, a qualified senior level Town Administrative Officer to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the Manager during his temporary absence or disability. During such absence or disability, the Council may revoke such designation at any time and appoint another Officer of the Town to serve until the Manager shall return or his disability shall cease. In the event of failure of the Manager to make such a designation, the Council may appoint an Acting Manager until the Manager shall return or his disability cease. In the event of the disability, incapacity, resignation or death of the Manager, the Council may appoint a Temporary or Interim Town Manager to exercise and perform the duties of the Manager until such time as a Permanent Manager is appointed.
(a) 
Neither the Council nor any of its members shall in any manner dictate the appointment or removal of any Town administrative officers or employees whom the Manager or any of his subordinates are empowered to appoint, but the Council may express its views and fully and freely discuss with the Manager anything pertaining to appointment and removal of such officers and employees.
(b) 
Except for the purpose of inquiries and investigations under § 2-1-12, the Council or its members shall deal with Town officers and employees who are subject to the direction and supervision of the Manager solely through the Manager, and neither the Council nor its members shall give orders to any such officer or employee, either publicly or privately.