3-301.1.
Establishment.
There shall be a town accountant, appointed by the Town Manager, subject
to confirmation by the Town Council. (Charter, §4-2-4)
3-301.2.
Powers
and Duties. The town accountant shall keep and have charge of all
accounts of the town. The town accountant shall keep the books in
such form and detail as may be necessary to clearly exhibit all expenditures
and receipts of each town agency. The town accountant shall credit
each municipal account with its appropriation for the fiscal year,
charging against each such account the expenditure there under as
may be made. The town accountant shall perform such other duties as
required by the town manager. The town accountant shall also be a
member of the contributory retirement board pursuant to Chapter 32,
Section 20 of the General Laws. The Town Accountant shall have all
the duties and responsibilities given to town accountants under the
General Laws.
3-302.1.
Establishment.
There shall be an animal control officer appointed by the Town Manager,
subject to confirmation by the Town Council. (Charter, §4-2-4)
3-302.2.
Powers
and Duties. The animal control officer shall be responsible for the
enforcement of all laws relating to dogs, including but not limited
to Section 136A to Section 175 of Chapter 140 of the General Laws
and all by-laws of the town further regulating animals. The animal
control officer shall, in addition, have all of the powers of a field
driver and pound keeper, as provided in Section 22 to Section 42 of
Chapter 49, the authority to take up stray beasts as provided in Chapter
134 of the General Laws and every other enabling authority as may
be. In addition, the animal control officer shall be responsible for
the taking up, confinement and disposition of wild animals that are
disturbing the public peace or providing a threat to public safety.
The animal control officer shall coordinate and cooperate, as necessary,
with the various humane societies that are active in Southbridge and
the surrounding area. The animal control officer shall have all of
the other powers, duties and responsibilities given to animal control
officers by the Massachusetts General Laws.
3-303.1.
Establishment.
There shall be an animal inspector appointed by the Town Manager,
subject to confirmation by the Town Council. (Charter, §4-2-4;
MGL c. 129, § 15)
3-303.2.
Powers
and Duties. The animal inspector shall make regular and thorough inspections
of all neat cattle, sheep, swine, and other domesticated animals within
the limits of the town, and, if the inspector knows or has reason
to suspect any are infected with or have been exposed to any contagious
disease, the inspector may order their quarantine. The animal inspector
shall have all of the other powers, duties and responsibilities given
to animal inspectors by the Massachusetts General Laws. (MGL
c. 129, §§ 15-25)
3-304.1.
Establishment.
There shall be a principal assessor appointed by the Town Manager,
subject to confirmation by the Town Council. (Charter, §4-2-4)
3-304.2.
Powers
and Duties. The principal assessor shall, with the remaining members
of the Board of Assessors, as appropriate, appraise real and personal
property in the town; perform field measurements and inspections of
residential and commercial buildings, including new buildings, additions,
major alterations, demolition and partial construction; the principal
assessor also inspects land and land changes resulting from map changes,
deed transfers and subdivision changes, using appropriate appraisal
techniques, makes estimate of market value of properties; and keeps
apprised of all deed transfers and checks deeds for ownership.
The principal assessor maintains record file system on permanent
properties including collected data and calculated cost with depreciation,
current market and assessed valuation considered. The principal assessor
performs other related duties as required.
3-305.1.
Establishment.
There shall be a town attorney appointed by the Town Manager, subject
to confirmation by the Town Council. (Charter, §7-1-1)
3-305.2.
Powers
and Duties. The town attorney shall represent the town in all legal
proceedings and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed
by the general laws, the town charter, or town By-laws. In advising
the town with regard to intra-town matters, the attorney shall exercise
independent and impartial judgment. (Charter § 7-1-1)
3-305.3.
Special
Counsel. No town office or agency shall, unless specifically authorized
to do so by the town manager, employ, advise with or consult any attorney
or counselor at law, other than the town attorney, with regard to
its duties, or to any town business. Whenever it is determined that
the services of a legal specialist are required, necessary or desirable,
the town manager shall, after consultation with the town attorney
and the office or agency involved, designate such special counsel.
3-306.1.
Establishment.
There shall be a building inspector appointed by the Town Manager,
subject to confirmation by the Town Council. (Charter, §4-2-4;
MGL c. 43, § 3)
3-306.2.
Establishment.
There shall be a director of inspectional services, appointed by the
Town Manager, who may, but need not, be the Building Inspector.
3-306.3.
Powers
and Duties. The building inspector shall examine or cause to be examined
all buildings upon which any work is to be done as often as is practicable,
and shall upon application examine all buildings which are to be moved,
raised, enlarged, altered, restored, built or rebuilt, and shall examine
all buildings which are reported as unsafe or dangerous. In addition,
the building inspector shall have the authority and responsibility
of a building inspector as provided by Chapter 143 of the General
Laws.
3-307.1.
Establishment.
There shall be a civil defense director/emergency management coordinator
appointed by the Town Manager, subject to confirmation by the Town
Council. (See §13 of Chapter 639 of the Acts of 1950)
3-307.2.
Powers
and Duties. The civil defense director/emergency management coordinator
shall be the head of the department of civil defense and emergency
management responsible for all emergency functions of the town in
the event of an emergency caused by natural or other means. The civil
defense director/emergency management coordinator shall have the authority
and responsibility which is provided to the office by Section 13 of
Chapter 639 of the Acts of 1950, as amended, and published as Section
13-13 of Chapter 33, Appendix, MGLA.
3-308.1.
Establishment.
There shall be a town treasurer collector appointed by the Town Manager,
subject to confirmation by the Town Council. (Charter §4-2-4;
MGL c. 41, § 38A; MGL c. 41, § 35)
3-308.2.
Powers
and Duties. The town treasurer collector shall be responsible for
billing and receiving all money due the town and for depositing such
funds in appropriate accounts. The town treasurer collector shall
maintain such records as may be required and perform such other duties
as may be required by the town manager. Further, the town treasurer
collector shall receive custody of all money belonging to the town.
The town treasurer collector shall be responsible for the investment
and disbursement of town funds and shall maintain such records and
perform such other duties as the town manager may require. The town
treasurer collector shall have all duties and responsibilities given
to treasurers and collectors under the General Laws.
3-309.1.
Establishment.
There shall be at least three constables appointed by the Town Manager,
subject to confirmation by the Town Council. The term of office of
each constable shall be three years so arranged that the term of at
least one shall expire each year. (Charter, §4-2-4)
3-309.2.
Powers
and Duties. Constables may serve writs, warrants and processes in
civil and criminal matters as authorized by law. They shall have the
power of sheriffs to require aid in the execution of their duties.
They shall serve all warrants and other processes directed to them
by the town manager for notifying of meetings or for other purposes. (MGL c. 41, § 94)
3-310.1.
Establishment.
The economic development and planning department shall be under the
control and supervision of an economic development and planning director
who shall be appointed by and responsible to the town manager.
3-310.2.
Powers
and Duties. The economic development and planning director shall supervise
and coordinate the town’s economic development, community development,
and planning activities. These activities include advancing the town’s
economic development programs; pursuit of funding and management of
programs to improve quality of life in the town; conduct research
and make recommendations on issues of land use, planning, and growth;
assist applicants as they proceed through the statutory planning and
conservation processes; and perform other relevant duties as may be
requested by the town manager.
3-311.1.
Establishment.
There shall be a director of elder services appointed by the Town
Manager.
3-311.2.
Powers
and Duties. The director of elder services shall, in consultation
with the council on aging, coordinate and conduct programs dealing
with the problems of aging and shall promote facilities for the health,
education, welfare and recreation of the aging. The director shall
be an advocate for the needs of the elderly people residing in the
town, and shall conduct surveys of the elderly population to better
determine their needs, problems and concerns.
3-312.1.
Establishment.
There shall be a finance director appointed by the Town Manager, subject
to confirmation by the Town Council. (Charter, §4-2-4)
3-312.2.
Powers
and Duties. The finance director shall be responsible for the supervision
and coordination of all activities of the department of finance in
accord with state statutes, town charter and by-laws. During a period
of absence or disability of the town manager, pending the appointment
of an acting town manager, the finance director shall perform the
duties of the manager pursuant to Section 4-7-1 of the Town Charter.
3-313.1.
Establishment.
There shall be a fire chief appointed by the town manager, subject
to confirmation by the Town Council, who shall be in charge of the
fire department. (Charter, §4-2-4)
3-313.2.
Powers
and Duties. Under the direction of the fire chief, the fire department
shall have full charge of extinguishing fires in the town and of protecting
life and property in case of fire. The fire chief shall establish
a program of fire prevention and safety, and provide for the training
of all fire department personnel. The chief shall have authority over
the administration of the fire department and shall propose for approval
by the town manager all rules and regulations for department operation.
The fire chief shall provide ambulance service to the town and shall
act as forest warden. (MGL c. 48, §§ 42A-55, c.
148)
3-314.1.
Establishment.
There shall be a municipal hearings officer appointed by the Town
Manager, subject to confirmation by the Town Council. (Charter,
§4-2-4).
3-314.2.
Powers
and Duties. The municipal hearings officer shall be responsible for
the performance of all of the functions assigned to municipal hearings
officers by MGL Chapter 148A and by MGL Chapter 90, Section 22B and
each and every other provision in the General Laws where a municipal
hearings officer is specified. The municipal hearings officer shall
have such additional powers, duties, responsibilities and functions
as may be provided by the Massachusetts General Laws and town by-laws
3-316.1.
Establishment.
There shall be a plumbing and gas inspector appointed by the Town
Manager, subject to confirmation by the Town Council. (Charter,
§4-2-4; MGL c. 142, § 11)
3-316.2.
Powers
and Duties. The plumbing and gas inspector shall inspect and approve
all plumbing installations in the town, in accord with applicable
rules and regulations or town By-laws, or MGL Chapter 142, and shall
inspect and approve gas fitting in accord with applicable laws.
3-317.1.
Establishment.
There shall be a police chief appointed by the Town Manager, subject
to confirmation by the Town Council, who shall be in charge of the
police department. (Charter, §4-2-4; MGL c. 41, §
97A)
3-317.2.
Powers
and Duties. Under direction of the police chief, the police department
shall have full charge of keeping the peace and the enforcement of
all laws. The chief of police shall have authority over the administration
of the police department and shall propose for approval by the town
manager all rules and regulations for department operation. The chief
shall be in control of all town property used by the department and
of all police officers. (MGL c. 41, §§ 97A, 98)
3-318.1.
Establishment.
The town manager shall be the chief procurement officer for the town. (Charter, §4-2-3)
3-318.2.
Powers
and Duties. The chief procurement officer shall be responsible for
purchasing all supplies, material and equipment for all departments
and activities of the town as provided in Chapter 30B of the General
Laws. The chief procurement officer may, as provided in Chapter 30B,
§19 of the General Laws, designate other procurement officers
to serve the needs of town agencies.
3-319.1.
Establishment.
There shall be a director of public works, appointed for a three year
term by the Town Manager, subject to confirmation by the Town Council,
who shall be in charge of the public works department. (Charter,
§4-2-4 and §6-1-3)
3-319.2.
Powers
and Duties. The responsibilities for highways, engineering, sewers,
parks, maintenance of buildings and grounds, cemeteries, trees and
forestry, insect pest control and other duties outlined in Sections
6-1-2 and 6-2-1 through 6-2-8 of the Town Charter shall rest with
the director of public works.
3-320.1.
Establishment.
There shall be a sealer of weights and measures appointed by the Town
Manager, subject to confirmation by the Town Council. (Charter,
§4-2-4).
3-320.2.
Powers
and Duties. The sealer of weights and measures shall test, adjust
and seal all devices used for the weighing and measuring of commodities
and shall be responsible for the enforcement of all laws relating
to weights and measures. (MGL c. 98, §§ 34-56C)
3-321.1.
Establishment.
There shall be a town treasurer collector, appointed by the Town Manager,
subject to confirmation by the Town Council, who shall serve for a
term of three years. (Charter §4-2-4; MGL c. 41, §
38A; MGL c. 41, § 35)
3-321.2.
Powers
and Duties. The town treasurer collector shall be responsible for
billing and receiving all money due the town and for depositing such
funds in appropriate accounts. The town treasurer collector shall
maintain such records as may be required and perform such other duties
as may be required by the town manager. Further, the town treasurer
collector shall receive custody of all money belonging to the town.
The town treasurer collector shall be responsible for the investment
and disbursement of town funds and shall maintain such records and
perform such other duties as the town manager may require. The town
treasurer collector shall have all duties and responsibilities given
to treasurers and collectors under the General Laws.
3-322.1.
Establishment.
There shall be a veteran’s services director appointed by the
Town Manager, subject to confirmation by the Town Council. (Charter, §4-2-4) (MGL c. 115, § 10)
3-322.2.
Powers
and Duties. The veteran’s services director shall furnish information,
advice and assistance to veterans relative to employment, education,
medical care, pensions and other benefits to which they are or may
be entitled. (MGL c. 115, §§ 10-14) The
veteran’s services director shall also serve as a veteran’s
agent (MGL c. 115, § 3), a veteran’s burial
agent (MGL c. 115, § 7) and a veteran’s
grave officer (MGL c. 114, § 46A).
3-323.1.
Establishment.
There shall be a wire inspector appointed by the Town Manager, subject
to confirmation by the Town Council. (Charter, §4-2-4).
3-323.2.
Powers
and Duties. The wire inspector shall supervise every wire over, under
or in streets or buildings and every wire within a building which
is designed to carry electricity. (MGL c. 166, § 32)
