The board of selectmen shall appoint an administrative officer for an indefinite term and fix his compensation within the amount appropriated by the town. The administrative officer shall be appointed on the basis of his executive and administrative qualifications. He shall be a person especially fitted by education, training or previous experience in public administration to perform the duties of the office. He need not be a resident of the town or of the commonwealth at the time of his appointment, but he must establish residence within the town within 12 months following his appointment. He shall not have served in an elective office in the town government for at least three years prior to his appointment. He shall devote full time to the office and shall not hold any other public office, elective or appointive, nor engage in any other business or occupation during his term, unless such action is approved in writing by the board of selectmen. The town may from time to time by bylaw establish such additional qualifications as seem necessary and appropriate.
Any vacancy in the office of the administrative officer shall be filled as soon as possible by the selectmen, and meanwhile they shall appoint a suitable person as temporary administrative officer to perform the duties of the office. Such temporary appointment may not exceed three months, but one additional renewal may be voted not to exceed a second three months. Compensation for such person shall be set by the board of selectmen.
The board of selectmen may remove the administrative officer from office in accordance with the following procedure:
(a) 
The board shall adopt a preliminary resolution by the affirmative vote of the majority of all its members which must state the reason or reasons for removal. This preliminary resolution may suspend the administrative officer for a period not to exceed 45 days. A copy of the resolution shall be delivered to the administrative officer forthwith.
(b) 
Within five days after receipt of the preliminary resolution, the administrative officer may request a public hearing by filing a written statement with the board of selectmen. This hearing shall be held at a meeting of the board not later than 30 days after the request is filed nor earlier than 20 days. The administrative officer may file a written statement with the board provided the same is received more than 48 hours in advance of the public hearing.
(c) 
The board may adopt a final resolution of removal, which may be made effective immediately, by affirmative vote of a majority of all of its members at any time after five days from the date of delivery of a copy of the preliminary resolution to the administrative officer, if he has not requested a public hearing, or, any time after the public hearing if he has requested one. Within 10 days after their vote to make their resolution final but in no event later than 45 days from the date of the adoption of the first resolution, the board must, by majority vote of the full membership, either affirm or dismiss the final resolution of removal.
The administrative officer shall continue to receive his salary until the effective date of a final resolution of removal. The action of the board in suspending or removing the administrative officer shall be final.
By letter filed with the town clerk, the administrative officer shall designate a qualified town administrative employee or officer to exercise the powers and perform the duties of administrative officer during his temporary absence. During his absence the board of selectmen may not revoke such designation until at least 10 working days have elapsed, whereupon it may appoint another officer of the town to serve until the administrative officer shall return.
The administrative officer shall be the chief administrative officer of the town and be responsible to the board of selectmen for the administration of all town affairs placed in his charge by or under this charter. He shall have the following powers and duties:
(a) 
He shall appoint and remove all department heads and all officers, members of boards and commissions, subordinates and employees, including those appointments and removals for which no other method is provided in this charter, in a collective bargaining agreement or in the general laws.
(b) 
He shall direct and supervise the administration of all functions under his control.
(c) 
He shall fix the compensation of all town officers and employees appointed by him, within the limits established by existing appropriations and by town bylaws.
(d) 
He shall attend all regular and special meetings of the board of selectmen, unless excused at his own request, and shall have a voice but not vote in all of its discussions.
(e) 
He shall attend all sessions of the town meetings and answer all questions directed to him by the voters of the town which relate to his office.
(f) 
He shall see that all of the provisions of the general laws, of this charter, of votes of the town meeting and of the board of selectmen which require enforcement by him or officers subject to his direction and supervision are faithfully carried out.
(g) 
He shall prepare and submit the annual budget and capital outlay program as provided in Article VI.
(h) 
He shall be responsible for the keeping of full and complete records of the finances and administrative activities of the town and render a full report to the selectmen at the end of each fiscal year and otherwise as they may require.
(i) 
He shall keep the selectmen informed as to the financial condition and needs of the town and shall make such recommendations to the selectmen as he deems necessary or expedient.
(j) 
He shall have full jurisdiction over the rental and use of all town facilities, except schools. He shall be responsible for the maintenance and repair of all town property, including school buildings placed under his control by this charter or by bylaw; provided, however, that the approval of the school committee shall be obtained for all school maintenance and repair plans.
(k) 
He shall be responsible for the appointment, subject to the approval of the board of selectmen, of any necessary building and facilities committees having to do with the preparation of plans and supervision of work on all construction, reconstruction, alterations, improvements and other undertakings authorized by the town, provided, however that the approval of the school committee shall be obtained for all school construction of improvement plans.
(l) 
He may investigate at any time the conduct of office of any officer or employee, or department, board or commission under his control.
(m) 
He shall keep a full and complete inventory of all property of the town, both real and personal.
(n) 
He shall negotiate contracts, involving any subject within his jurisdiction. These proposed contracts shall be subject to final approval and execution by the selectmen. Copies of all proposed contracts shall be filed with the appropriation committee before final action is taken by the selectmen.
(o) 
He shall be responsible for purchasing all supplies, materials and equipment for all departments and activities of the town, but not including food for schools, school books and other instructional materials, supplies and equipment, library books and related printed and audio visual material, unless otherwise specifically requested by the school committee or the library trustees.
(p) 
He shall perform any other duties required by the bylaws, the votes of the town meeting, or the votes of the board of selectmen.