Town of Chatham, MA Town Manager

The select board shall appoint a town manager and shall annually evaluate the performance of the town manager. The town manager shall be a person of proven administrative ability, especially qualified by education and training with at least five years full-time experience as a city or town manager or an assistant city or town manager or the equivalent experience in the public or private sector. The select board may from time to time establish such additional qualifications as deemed necessary and appropriate.

The town manager shall devote full time to the duties of the office and shall not hold any other elective or appointive town office, nor shall the town manager engage in any other business unless such action is approved in advance in writing by the select board.

Section 4-2 Relationship of Town Manager and the Select Board.

The town manager shall be the primary officer responsible for the implementation of policy directives and guidelines adopted by the select board. The daily administration of the affairs of the town shall be the responsibility of the town manager.

Section 4-3 Vacancy in Office.

Any permanent vacancy in the office of town manager shall be filled as soon as possible by the select board. Pending appointment of the town manager or the filling of any vacancy the select board shall, within a reasonable period of time, appoint some other qualified person to perform the duties of the town manager.

Section 4-4 Temporary Absence.

The town manager may designate by letter filed with the select board and town clerk a qualified officer of the town to perform the duties of the town manager during a temporary absence or disability. If such temporary absence or disability shall exceed thirty (30) days, any designation made by the town manager shall be subject to the approval of the select board. In the event of failure of the town manager to make such designation, or if the person so designated is for any reason unable to serve, the select board may designate some other qualified person to perform the duties of the town manager until the town manager shall return.

Section 4-5 Compensation.

The town manager shall receive such compensation for services as the select board shall determine but such compensation shall be within the limits of available appropriations.

Section 4-6 Powers of Appointment.

Except as otherwise provided by this charter, the town manager shall appoint, based on merit and fitness alone, and may remove all department heads, assistant department heads, officers, subordinates, employees serving under elected and appointed boards, commissions, committees and employees for whom no other method of selection and removal is provided in this charter except employees of the housing authority.

Appointment of department heads by the town manager shall become effective on the fifteenth day following the day on which notice of the proposed appointment is filed with the select board unless the select board shall, within such period, by majority vote of the full select board, vote to reject such appointment.

Section 4-7 Administrative Powers and Duties.

The town manager shall be the administrative officer of the town and shall be responsible to the select board for the proper operation of town affairs for which the town manager is given responsibility under this charter. The powers, duties and responsibilities of the town manager shall include, but are not intended to be limited to, the following:

(a)

to supervise, direct and be responsible for the efficient administration of all officers appointed by the town manager and their respective departments, and of all functions for which the town manager is given responsibility, authority, or control by this charter, by bylaw, by town meeting vote, or by vote of the select board;

(b)

to administer and enforce either directly or through a person or persons supervised by the town manager, in accordance with this charter, all provisions of the laws of the commonwealth or special laws applicable to the town, all bylaws, and all regulations established by the select board;

(c)

to coordinate activities of all town departments;

(d)

to attend all regular and special meetings of the select board, unless excused;

(e)

to attend all sessions of the town meeting and to answer all questions addressed to the town manager and which are related to warrant articles and to matters under general supervision of the town manager;

(f)

to keep the select board fully informed as to the needs of the town, and to recommend to the select board for adoption such measures requiring action by them or by the town as the town manager deems necessary or expedient;

(g)

to insure that complete and full records of the financial and administrative activity of the town are maintained and to render reports to the select board as may be required;

(h)

to be responsible for rental, use, maintenance, repair and the development of a comprehensive maintenance program for all town facilities;

(i)

to serve as the chief procurement officer and be responsible for the purchase of all supplies, materials and equipment except books and other educational materials for schools, and approve the award of all contracts for all town departments;

(j)

to develop and maintain a full and complete inventory of all town owned real and personal property;

(k)

to administer personnel policies, practices, and rules and regulations, any compensation plan and any related matters for all municipal employees, and to administer all collective bargaining agreements entered into by the town;

(l)

to fix the compensation of all town employees and officers appointed by the town manager within the limits established by appropriation and any applicable compensation plan and collective bargaining agreements;

(m)

to be responsible for the negotiation of all contracts with town employees over wages and other terms and conditions of employment, except employees. The town manager may, subject to the approval of the select board, employ special counsel to assist in the performance of these duties. Contracts shall be subject to the approval of the select board;

(n)

to prepare and submit an annual operating budget and capital improvement program as provided in Sections 6-1 and 6-2 of this charter;

(o)

to keep the select board and the finance committee fully informed as to the financial condition of the town and to make recommendations to the select board as the town manager deems necessary;

(p)

to investigate or inquire into the affairs of any town department or office;

(q)

to delegate, authorize or direct any subordinate or employee of the town to exercise any power, duty or responsibility which the office of town manager is authorized to exercise, provided, that all acts which are performed under such delegation shall be deemed to be the acts of the town manager;

(r)

to perform such other duties as necessary or as may be assigned by this charter, by bylaw, by town meeting vote, or by vote of the select board.

Section 4-8 Removal of Town Manager.

The select board, by affirmative vote of three of its members, may vote to terminate, remove or suspend the town manager. If so requested by the town manager, the select board shall provide a written statement setting forth the reasons for the removal or termination within ten (10) working days.

Within five (5) days after the vote to terminate, remove or suspend the town manager from office, the town manager may request a public hearing by filing a written request for such hearing with the select board. The purpose of such hearing is to provide the town manager with an opportunity to provide information and make a statement concerning removal from said office. If such a hearing is requested, the hearing shall be held at a meeting of the select board not later than twenty days from the date of request.