It is the intent of this Administrative Code to consolidate into an operating division similar and related functions of municipal government and services that involve financial affairs and the keeping of records. The division shall be known as the "Finance and Records Division" and shall include all present and future line operating functions that pertain to the collection and disbursement of public moneys accounting, statistics, assessments, elections, voter registration and records and the like. The Division shall include all such functions that are performed on a daily or regular basis.
[HISTORY: Derived from Chapter 3, Art. VIII, of the prior Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
Composition, mode of appointment, term of office. There shall be an Office of the Town Clerk composed of an operating head known as the "Town Clerk" and operating personnel. The Administrative Officer shall be responsible for appointing all personnel. Such appointments shall be made for an indefinite term.
B.
Powers and duties. The Office of the Town Clerk shall work under the general policy direction of the Board of Selectmen and the general administrative direction of the Administrative Officer. The Town Clerk shall be the keeper of the town archives and vital statistics, the custodian of the Town Seal and all public records belonging to the town and shall perform duties with regard to the regulation and conduct of elections. The Town Clerk shall have all of the powers and duties and obligations that town clerks may have under the Constitution and laws of the commonwealth, the Town Charter, town bylaws and this Administrative Code.
[Added 4-23-2018 ATM, Art. 25]
A.
Composition, mode of appointment, term of office. There shall be an Office of the Finance Director composed of an operating head known as the "Finance Director" and operating personnel. The Administrative Officer shall be responsible for the appointment of all personnel. Such appointments shall be made for an indefinite term.
B.
Powers and duties. The Office of the Finance Director shall work under the general policy direction of the Board of Selectmen and the general administrative direction of the Administrative Officer. The Finance Director is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the Town’s financial activities. The Finance Director supervises the Accountant, Treasurer-Tax Collector, and Assessors and may perform the functions of a treasurer-tax collector or accountant, as set forth in these bylaws and pursuant to their respective job descriptions. The Finance Director shall ensure the regular reconciliation of cash and receivables, the effective operation of internal controls, and the timely fulfillment of reporting requirements to the Division of Local Services (DLS). The Finance Director shall have all of the powers and duties and obligations that a Finance Director may have under the Constitution and laws of the commonwealth, the Town Charter, town bylaws and this Administrative Code.
[Amended 4-26-2010 ATM, Art. 37; 4-23-2018 ATM, Art. 25]
A.
Composition, mode of appointment, term of office. There shall be an Office of the Board of Assessors composed of a Board of Assessors and operating personnel. The Administrative Officer shall be responsible for the appointment of three Assessors and all other personnel. The term of office of each Assessor shall be for three years, such terms so arranged that the term of one member shall expire each year.
B.
Powers and duties. The Office of the Board of Assessors shall work under the general policy direction of the Board of Selectmen and the general administrative direction of the Finance Director and be responsible to direction from the Department of Revenue. The Board of Assessors shall annually make a fair cash valuation of all property, both real and personal, within the town and shall have all of the powers and duties and obligations with regard to the preparation of commitment lists and the fixing of the annual tax rate, the abatement of taxes, the assessment of betterment fees and such matters that boards of assessors may have under the Constitution and laws of the commonwealth, the Town Charter, town bylaws and this Administrative Code.
A.
Composition, mode of appointment, term of office. There shall be a Board of Registrars of Voters composed of three members and the Town Clerk as an ex officio member. The Board of Selectmen shall appoint the members. The term of office of each member shall be for three years, such terms so arranged that the term of one member shall expire each year. The members of the Board of Registrars of Voters shall represent the two leading political parties, and in no case shall an appointment be made so as to cause the Board to have more than two members, including the Town Clerk of the same political party.
B.
Powers and duties. The Board of Registrars of Voters shall work under the general policy direction of the Board of Selectmen. The Board shall supervise the qualification of persons to vote; shall certify the names of voters on nomination papers and petition forms; and shall hold hearings and decide all disputes relating to these matters. The Board shall have all of the powers and duties and obligations that such boards may have under the Constitution and laws of the commonwealth, the Town Charter, town bylaws and this Administrative Code.
A.
Composition, mode of appointment, term of office. There shall be no less than 16 Election Officers composed of Wardens, Deputy Wardens, Clerks, Deputy Clerks, Inspectors and Deputy Inspectors appointed by the Board of Selectmen for one-year terms. The Election Officers shall represent the two leading political parties. In no case shall appointments be made so as to have other than equal representation from each of these two political parties.
B.
Powers and duties. The Election Officers shall work under the direction of the Town Clerk in the conduct of all elections held in the town and shall have all of the powers and duties and obligations that election officers may have under the Constitution and laws of the commonwealth.
[Amended 4-26-2010 ATM, Art. 37; 4-23-2018 ATM, Art. 25]
A.
Composition, mode of appointment, term of office. There shall be an Office of the Town Accountant composed of an operating head known as the "Town Accountant" and operating personnel. The Board of Selectmen shall appoint the Town Accountant for a three-year term of office. The Administrative Officer shall be responsible for appointing all other personnel for an indefinite term.
B.
Powers and duties. The Office of the Town Accountant shall work under the general policy direction of the Board of Selectmen and the general administrative direction of the Finance Director. The Finance Director may also serve simultaneously as the Town Accountant. The Town Accountant shall keep and have charge of all accounts of the town; shall keep records that clearly exhibit all expenditures and receipts of each town agency; shall credit each municipal account with its appropriation for the fiscal year and charge each account with expenditures as they are made. The Town Accountant shall have all of the powers and duties and obligations that town accountants may have under the Constitution and laws of the commonwealth, the Town Charter, town bylaws and this Administrative Code.
[Amended 4-26-2010 ATM, Art. 37; 4-23-2018 ATM, Art. 25]
A.
Composition, mode of appointment, term of office. There shall be an Office of the Treasurer-Tax Collector composed of an operating head known as the "Treasurer-Tax Collector" and operating personnel. The Administrative Officer shall be responsible for the appointment of all personnel. Such appointments shall be made for an indefinite term.
B.
Powers and duties. The Office of the Treasurer-Tax Collector shall work under the general policy direction of the Board of Selectmen and the general administrative direction of the Finance Director. The Finance Director may also serve simultaneously as the Treasurer-Tax Collector. The Treasurer-Tax Collector shall receive and have charge of all money belonging to the town or received by the town or its agents or agencies. Every town officer shall, upon receipt of any fee or charge by said officer, forthwith pay over and account for the same to the Treasurer-Tax Collector. No other person shall pay any bill of any town agency. The Treasurer-Tax Collector shall have all of the powers and duties and obligations that treasurers and tax collectors, or either of them, may have under the Constitution and laws of the commonwealth, the Town Charter, town bylaws and this Administrative Code.