[HISTORY: Derived from Chapter 3, Art. I, of the prior Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
In order to promote the public good by rendering more effective and more responsive the diverse activities of boards, commissions, officers, departments, authorities and committees engaged in the municipal government of the Town of Northborough, an Administrative Code is hereby established pursuant to the provisions of Section 5-1(b) of the Northborough Home Rule Charter as adopted in March 1970 and amended in March 1975.
B. 
The objective of this Administrative Code is to define the plan of the organization which establishes the staff and line divisions for the orderly, efficient and convenient conduct of the affairs of the town.
If any provision of this Administrative Code is held invalid, the other provisions of the Administrative Code shall not be affected thereby. If the application of the Administrative Code or any of its provisions to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the application of this Administrative Code and its provisions to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
The plan of organization defined by the Administrative Code consists of six major functioning elements.
A. 
Legislative body. Voters of the town assembled at Town Meeting.
B. 
Committees of the legislative body. Standing between the voters and the elected officials in an advisory capacity to the legislative body are a six-member Appropriation Committee, a five-member Municipal Code and Bylaws Committee and a six-member Personnel Board. These officials are appointed in accordance with Section 2-2 of the Town Charter for terms of three years for each member so that at least two terms on each board expire each year, where practical.
C. 
Elected officials. Principal functions are to formulate policy, make plans and to direct programs that carry out the votes of the legislative body.
D. 
Staff boards, commissions, officers, committees. Directly below the Board of Selectmen, these staff functions are placed in two sections: the Administrative Division, composed of specific policy makers and planners and quasi-judicial functions; and the Administrative Services, comprising functions that are primarily advisory. Both sections act as administrative staff support to the chief executive, the Board of Selectmen and/or the Administrative Officer.
E. 
Office of the Administrative Officer. This office is responsible for the overall daily or regular operation of the town and works with the line departments and offices in carrying out obligations and duties.
F. 
Operating divisions. This Administrative Code establishes five divisions comprised of line functions to carry out the daily and regular tasks of municipal services. Groupings of public safety, public works, finance and records, human services and health and inspection functions make up the five divisions.
The Table of Organization established under this Administrative Code is illustrated in Figure 3-1. The elective or appointing authority, the composition, the terms of office, the qualifications and the powers and duties for the various divisions and departments and offices are indicated in subsequent sections of this chapter.
[1]
Editor’s Note: The Table of Organization is on file in the office of the Town Clerk.
A. 
The elected officers include those boards, committees and positions whose members are elected by ballot of the registered voters of the town. They are:
(1) 
Board of Selectmen [five members].
(2) 
Northborough School Committee [five members].
(3) 
Northborough-Southborough Regional School District Committee [five members]
(4) 
Moderator.
(5) 
Redevelopment Authority [four and one Governor appointed]
(6) 
Planning Board [five members].
(7) 
Such members of regional authorities or districts as may be established as elected officials by federal and state statute, interlocal agreement or otherwise.
B. 
The composition and terms of office of the members of these boards, committees and positions shall be in accordance with provisions of the Town Charter, Town Code or special laws of the commonwealth.
A. 
Composition, mode of appointment, term of office. There shall be an Administrative Cabinet composed of all members of the Board of Selectman and the Chairman of the Board of Library Trustees, Cemetery Commission, Youth Commission, Water and Sewer Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Conservation Commission, Board of Health, Appropriation Committee, School Committee, Planning Board, Council on Aging, Financial Planning Committee and Historical Commission. The Administrative Officer shall be an ex officio member. Members shall serve as long as they are Chairmen or Selectmen.
[Amended 4-11-1978 ATM, Art. 29; 4-10-1979 ATM, Art. 39]
B. 
Powers and duties. The Administrative Cabinet shall be responsible for periodic exchanges of important policy and program information with the Board of Selectmen and the Administrative Officer. The Cabinet shall meet at least once annually upon the call of the Board of Selectmen and more often as requested by that Board. The Chairman of the Board of Selectmen shall serve as Chairman of the Cabinet. Each member of the Cabinet shall be responsible for providing information on policies and other matters relating to such member’s respective staff function; providing advice and counsel to the Board of Selectmen to such member’s respective board or commission or committee. The Administrative Officer shall inform the Cabinet of major operations and personnel matters and shall be responsible for informing operating heads of any major policy directions affecting their respective departments or offices.
A. 
Composition, mode of appointment and term of office. There shall be a Town Counsel appointed by the Board of Selectmen for an indefinite term.
B. 
Powers and duties. The Town Counsel shall work under the general policy direction of the Board of Selectmen and the general administrative direction of the Administrative Officer. The Town Counsel shall be the legal officer for all town agencies and shall, under the direction of the Selectmen, prosecute and defend all suits and other proceedings, civil or criminal, in which the town is a party or has an interest. The Town Counsel shall prepare of approve all legal documents or instruments to be entered into by any town agency; give opinions on legal points upon request and, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to all town agencies; and perform such other legal services as may be required.