a. 
Departments, boards, and offices. The municipality shall continue or, by ordinance, create and determine and define the powers and duties of such executive and administrative departments, boards, and offices, in addition to those provided by general law, as it may deem necessary for the proper and efficient conduct of the affairs of the municipality. Any department, board, or office so continued or created may at any time be abolished by the municipality.
b. 
Bonds of officials. The Board of Selectmen shall require a bond by a reputable surety company licensed by the State of Maine, equal to the potential liability, satisfactory to the Board of Selectmen, from all persons trusted with the collection, custody or disbursement of any monies of the Town. The Town shall pay the costs of providing such bond.
c. 
Election, organization, procedures. Except as otherwise specifically stipulated, all boards and committees shall be elected and governed under the general provisions of Article III.
d. 
Hearings. Prior to final recommendations involving Charter provisions, ordinances, rules or regulations of broad significance, or referendums, public legislative hearings shall be held to solicit public opinion on the proposals. At least seven days' advance notice shall be given by newspaper and posting at three commonly accessible locations. Copies of the proposal shall be made available in advance on request and at the hearings. General notes shall be taken for record.
a. 
Organization. There shall be a Planning Board/Comprehensive Planning Committee of five voting members and two alternates.
b. 
Responsibilities and duties. The Planning Board/Comprehensive Planning Committee shall have responsibility and authority in the following areas:
1. 
Prepare, review, update and recommend for Town Meeting approval the Comprehensive Plan for land use regulation within the Town according to 30-A M.R.S.A. statutory provisions appropriate to the Town.
2. 
Prepare, review, update and recommend for Town Meeting approval ordinances and codes in keeping with comprehensive plans as they develop.
3. 
Administer the ordinances by approval or disapproval actions on building and land use permits according to established ordinances, including, but not limited to, subdivision, mining, site plan, and telecommunications ordinances.
4. 
Arrange for inspections and corrective actions in cases of violation.
a. 
Organization. There shall be a Board of Appeals of five voting members and one alternate, elected and organized under the general provision of Article III.
b. 
Responsibilities and duties. The Board of Appeals shall have powers and authority to review appeals made in response to adverse actions by the Planning Board, Board of Selectmen, and/or Code Enforcement Officer with respect to land use and building permit applications, and appeals made by other citizens of the Town with respect to permit actions. The Board of Appeals shall follow general guidelines of 30-A M.R.S.A. for zoning ordinance appeals, as appropriate, and as directed by ordinances adopted by the Town.
a. 
Organization. There shall be a Budget Committee of five voting members and one alternate, elected and organized under the general provisions of Article III.
b. 
Responsibilities and duties. The Budget Committee shall act as a review and advisory body to the Town of budget requests by the operating agencies. The Committee shall, to the extent practical and constructive, work with the agencies during preparation of their budget requests. The Committee shall then make further review considering total and competing budget considerations and the resources of the Town, and by vote recommend to the Town either approval of each agency-approved budget request or an alternate budget figure.
[Amended 6-13-2026]
a. 
The Wales Municipal Volunteer Fire Department shall be the established department of the Town for fire prevention, control, and extinguishment. The Fire Chief shall serve for a two-year period. The WMVFD shall establish its systems and administrative procedures for recruitment, training, equipping and directing the volunteer firefighting force as generally provided under 30-A M.R.S.A. §§ 3151 to 3157 and this Charter. It shall follow the same procedure for budgeting and financial transactions as for other departmental accounts.
b. 
The Department Chief shall be appointed by the Board of Selectmen to be the Town Fire Chief with responsibilities and powers as provided in applicable sections of 25 M.R.S.A. and 30-A M.R.S.A. § 3153. The Fire Chief shall serve as Fire Warden, and the Fire Chief or his/her designee shall serve as the Director of the Emergency Management Agency. The Fire Chief shall make arrangements for mutual assistance, fire alarm and alert systems, fire permits and other matters serving the Town's interest in fire protection.
a. 
The Town Clerk shall post and maintain Town records, supervise elections, issue licenses, swear in newly elected and appointed Town officials, and fulfill other duties appropriate to the Town as generally described in the Municipal Clerk Manual (Maine Municipal Association).
b. 
The Town Treasurer shall receive, maintain and disburse (on warrants and vouchers approved by the Board of Selectmen) the Town's public monies and maintain accounts for same, as generally described in the Tax Collector's and Treasurer's Manual (Maine Municipal Association). The Treasurer shall receive all payments received during the redemption period on tax lien mortgages and notify the record holder of foreclosure proceeding and closing date if reception is not completed within schedule.
c. 
The Tax Collector shall, upon receipt of the list of taxes from the Board of Selectmen/Assessors and warrant providing authority for collection, proceed with the billing, collection and transfer to the Treasurer of monies collected and, in cases of tax payment delinquency, shall prepare and file tax lien mortgage documents in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Selectmen and the MMA Tax Collector's and Treasurer's Manual. The Tax Collector also serves to collect certain fees and taxes established by state ordinances and agencies.
d. 
The Public Works Director shall prepare both immediate and long-range plans for the repair, maintenance and safety provisions for the Town roads and Town properties and prepare and recommend the budget for the same. The Director shall hire assistance and obtain materials to implement plans approved by Town Meeting warrant and collaborate with the Board of Selectmen for major construction and winter maintenance contracts.
e. 
Code Enforcement Officers shall administer and enforce Town ordinances for land use and buildings, following guidelines established by the Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board.
f. 
The Health Officer, commonly appointed for three years, is responsible for guarding against and reporting contagious diseases and investigating dangerous or unhealthy conditions, reporting to the Maine Department of Human Services.