Administrative Code - The mayor may from time to time prepare and submit to the city council plans of organization or reorganization which establish operating divisions for the orderly, efficient or convenient conduct of the business of the city; provided, however, that no function assigned by this charter to a particular city agency may be discontinued or assigned to any other city agency unless this charter specifically so provides. The mayor may, through the administrative code, and subject only to express prohibitions in a general law or this charter, reorganize, consolidate or abolish any city agency, in whole or in part; establish such new city agencies as are deemed necessary; and for such purpose may transfer the duties and powers and, so far as is consistent with the use for which the funds were voted by the city, transfer the appropriation of 1 city agency to another.
Whenever the mayor proposes such a plan any proposed changes to the administrative code shall be accompanied by a message from the mayor which explains the expected benefits and advises the city council if changes proposed shall require amendments, insertions, revisions, repeal or otherwise of existing ordinances. The city council shall hold at least 1 public hearings on the proposal, giving notice by publication in a local newspaper and on the city website, which notice shall describe the scope of the proposal and the time and place at which the hearing will be held, not less than 7 days nor more than 14 days following said publication.
An organization or reorganization plan shall become effective at the expiration of 60 days following the date the proposal is submitted to the city council unless the city council shall, by a majority vote, within such period vote to disapprove the plan. The city council may vote only to approve or to disapprove the plan and may not vote to amend or to alter the plan.
All appointments and promotions of city officers and employees shall be made on the basis of merit and fitness demonstrated by examination, past performance, or by other evidence of competence and suitability. Each person appointed to fill an office or position shall be a person especially fitted by education, training and previous work experience to perform the duties of the office or position for which the person is chosen.
(a) 
Establishment; scope - There shall be a department of municipal finance responsible for the performance of all of the fiscal and financial activities of the city. The department of municipal finance shall assume all of the duties and responsibilities related to municipal finance activities which shall include treasury, collection, accounting and assessing and the department of municipal finance may have such additional powers, duties and responsibilities with respect to municipal finance related functions and activities as the city may from time to time provide by ordinance.
(b) 
Director of Municipal Finance - The department of municipal finance shall be under the direct control and supervision of a director of municipal finance who shall be appointed by and who shall be responsible to the mayor. The mayor shall also appoint the person, or persons, with management and oversight responsibility for treasury or collection functions. The director of municipal finance shall be a person especially fitted by education, experience and training to perform the duties of the office. The director of municipal finance shall be responsible for the supervision and coordination of all activities of the department of municipal finance in accordance with the general laws, city ordinances, the administrative code and any accompanying rules and regulations. The mayor may specify that the director of municipal finance shall serve, ex officio, as the city treasurer, collector, treasurer-collector or city accountant.
(a) 
Establishment; scope - There shall be a department of planning and development responsible for the coordination of all the planning and development related activities of the city. The department of planning and development shall be responsible for the coordination of all of the duties and responsibilities related to planning and development activities which, prior to the adoption of this charter, were performed by or under the authority of the planning board, board of appeals, and the conservation commission; and the department of planning and development may have such additional powers, duties and responsibilities with respect to the coordination of planning and development related functions and activities as the city may from time to time provide by ordinance, which may include the coordination of all land acquisition and land management proposals, economic development planning, the preparation of a comprehensive or master plan and maintenance of a centralized source of records, reports, statistical data and other planning and development related materials.
(b) 
Director of Planning and Development - The department of planning and development shall be under the direct control and supervision of a director of planning and development, who shall be appointed by and be responsible to the mayor. The director of planning and development shall be a person especially fitted by education, experience and training to perform the duties of the office. The director of planning and development shall be responsible for the supervision and coordination of all activities of the department of planning and development in accordance with the general laws, city ordinances, administrative code and rules and regulations.
(a) 
Composition, mode of appointment and term of office - There shall be a permanent buildings and other facilities planning and construction committee which may be referred to as the "planning and construction committee" consisting of 7 members. Six of the committee members shall be appointed by the mayor for terms of 3 years each so arranged that the term of 2 members shall expire each year. In making appointments to the committee, the mayor shall seek persons having experience in the fields of architecture, engineering, construction, real estate or law. The seventh member of the committee shall be designated by the school committee and may, but need not, be a member of the school committee.
(b) 
Powers and duties - The planning and construction committee shall be responsible for monitoring the physical condition of all municipal buildings and other facilities. The committee shall meet from time to time with representatives of municipal agencies to evaluate the need for additions, renovations or remodeling of any existing building or facility or for the construction of new buildings or other facilities. The committee shall file written reports, at least annually, with the mayor in which it shall make recommendations as to the need for any project or projects.
Whenever any construction work on any municipal building or other facility is authorized, the planning and construction committee shall be responsible for all work in connection with the project including site planning, surveying, engineering studies, architectural plans and specifications and the supervision of construction.
(a) 
Establishment, scope - There shall be a department of human resources which shall be responsible for all personnel and employee-related functions and activities of the city government and its administration. The department of human resources shall assume all of the duties and responsibilities related to human resources activities which, prior to the adoption of the this charter, were performed by or under the authority of the city auditor, the city treasurer and the heads of city agencies; and the department of human resources may have such additional powers, duties and responsibilities with respect to human resources related functions and activities as the city may from time to time provide, by ordinance. The functions of the department shall include the following:
1. 
Planning, administering and directing all phases of all municipal personnel plans and collective bargaining agreements, including job description, position classification, sick and vacation day administration, accident prevention programs, employee grievance procedures, physical examination processing, testing, review and evaluation of work records and all other record keeping related to city employees.
2. 
Developing new and revised personnel policies and practices to maintain and keep current the existing high standards for municipal personnel and ensure compliance with federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations regarding personnel and employment.
3. 
Reviewing and evaluating all requests for new or additional personnel made by city agencies and making recommendations to the mayor.
4. 
Advising and assisting all agency heads and employees in all aspects of municipal personnel matters, including, but not limited to recruitment, discipline, promotion, transfer, training, wages, insurance and other benefits of employment.
(b) 
Director of Human Resources - The department shall be headed by a director of human resources appointed by the mayor and who shall be responsible to the mayor. The director of human resources shall be a person especially fitted by education, experience and training to perform the duties of the office. The director of human resources shall be responsible for the supervision and coordination of all activities of the department of human resources in accordance with the general laws, city ordinances, administrative code and rules and regulations.
(a) 
Establishment; scope - There shall be a department of municipal inspections which shall be responsible for the coordination of all inspection functions performed by any city officer, employee or agent. The department of municipal inspections shall be responsible for the coordination of all of the inspection functions conducted by the city, including, but not limited to, those required under the zoning or any other city ordinance, the Code of Massachusetts Regulations relating to buildings, electrical wiring, plumbing, gas fitting, sanitation, wetlands, fire protection and fire safety, hazardous materials, local regulations adopted by the board of health, conservation commission, historic districts commission, planning board and every other local inspection as may be otherwise authorized or conducted. The department of municipal inspections shall have such additional powers, duties and responsibilities with respect to the coordination of municipal inspection functions as the city may from time to time provide by ordinance, which may include the maintenance of all records relating to inspections in a central place through a common index, a single application process that would indicate all inspections that might be necessary for a particular project and provide for a consolidated, coordinated review and processing of each such application.
(b) 
Director of Municipal Inspections - The department of municipal inspections shall be under the direct control and supervision of a director of municipal inspections, who shall be appointed by the mayor and who shall be responsible to the mayor. The director of municipal inspections shall be a person especially fitted by education, experience and training to perform the duties of the office. The director of municipal inspections shall be responsible for the supervision and coordination of all activities of the department of municipal inspections in accordance with the general laws, city ordinances, administrative code and rules and regulations. The director of municipal inspections shall, in addition to the coordination responsibilities assigned by this provision, also perform the duties of building inspector or any other position within the department as the mayor may from time to time specify.