(a) 
The organization of the City into operating agencies for the provision of services and the administration of the government may be accomplished through either of the methods provided in this article.
(b) 
Ordinances. Subject only to express prohibitions in a general law or the provisions of this Charter, the City Council may, by ordinance, reorganize, consolidate, create, merge, divide or abolish any City agency, in whole or in part; establish such new City agencies as it deems necessary or advisable, determine the manner of selection, the term of office and prescribe the functions of all such entities; 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.
(c) 
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. Whenever the Mayor prepares such a plan the Mayor shall hold one or more public hearings on the proposal giving notice by publication in a local newspaper, which notice shall describe the scope of the proposal and the time and place at which the hearing will be held, not less than seven nor more than 14 days following said publication. Following such public hearing, the proposal, which may have been amended subsequent to the public hearing, shall be submitted to the City Council by the Mayor. An organization or reorganization plan shall become effective at the expiration of 60 days following the date on which the proposal is submitted to the City Council unless the City Council shall, within said 60 days, by a majority vote, 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 it. 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 is deemed necessary to the same extent as is provided in Subsection (b), above, for ordinances; and for such purpose 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 one City agency to another; 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.
Every organization or reorganization plan submitted by the Mayor pursuant to this provision shall contain a proposed ordinance which sets out, in detail, such amendments, insertions, revisions, repeals or otherwise of existing ordinances as may be necessary to accomplish the desired reorganization. Such reorganization plan and proposed ordinance shall be accompanied by a message of the Mayor, which explains the benefits expected to ensue if the plan is adopted.
All appointments and promotions of city officers and employees shall be made on the basis of merit and fitness demonstrated by examination, education and certification, or by other evidence of competence and suitability.
(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 include within it the City Accountant, the City Treasurer, the City Collector and the Board of Assessors; and it may have such additional powers, duties and responsibilities with respect to municipal finance related functions and activities as the City from time to time provide, by ordinance. So much of the powers of a chief procurement officer which the Mayor does not personally exercise, shall be assigned to the Department of Municipal Finance. All activity by the Mayor acting as a Chief Procurement Officer shall be processed through the Department of Municipal Finance.
(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, performing the duties of City Collector and City Treasurer. 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 General Laws, City ordinance, Administrative Code and rules and regulations. The Director of Municipal Finance shall serve, as the Mayor may from time to time specify, as the City Treasurer, City 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 Director 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 the Home Rule Charter were performed by or under the authority of the Planning Board, Board of Appeals, and the Conservation Commission; and it 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, and 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 who shall 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 General Laws, City ordinances, Administrative Code and rules and regulations.
(a) 
Compensation, mode of appointment and term of office. There shall be a Planning and Construction Committee (which may be referred to as the "Planning and Construction Committee") consisting of seven members. Six of the Committee members shall be appointed by the Mayor for terms of three years each so arranged that the term of two 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, annually, by the School Committee and may, 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 quarterly and file a written report not less than annually with the Mayor in which it shall make recommendations as to the need for any project or projects. The Committee will meet 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, as necessary.
Whenever any construction work on any municipal building or other facility is authorized, the Planning and Construction Committee shall monitor the work through contact with the Department of Planning and Development and Building Inspections Department.
(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 Home Rule Charter, were performed by or under the authority of the City Accountant, the City Treasurer, and the heads of City agencies; and it 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 Department of Human Resources may, at the request of the School Committee, perform any of the same services for employees of the school department as it provides for City employees generally.
The functions of the Department of Human Resources shall include, but not limited to, the following:
1. 
Plan, administer and direct 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. 
Develop new and revised personnel policies and practices to maintain and keep current the existing high standards for municipal personnel.
3. 
Review and evaluate all requests for new or additional personnel made by City agencies and make recommendations to the Mayor.
4. 
Advise and assist all agency heads and employees in all aspects of municipal personnel matters including recruitment, 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 General Laws, City ordinances, administrative code and rules and regulations.
(a) 
There shall be a Board of License Commissioners which shall have the power to issue licenses for inn-holders or common victuallers, have the powers of a Licensing Board appointed under MGL c. 138, § 4, and to be the licensing authority for the purposes of Chapter 138 and Chapter 140 of the General Laws and which shall have all of the other powers with respect to licenses which prior to the adoption of the Home Rule Charter were exercised by the Board of Selectmen. The Board of License Commissioners may grant licenses relating to alcoholic beverages under Chapter 138 of the General Laws and those licenses under Chapter 140 of the General Laws which are not, by the provisions of said chapter, placed within the jurisdiction of another municipal officer or agency, and it shall have all the powers and duties of a licensing authority under said chapters.
(b) 
The Board of License Commissioners shall consist of five voters appointed by the Mayor for terms of three years, beginning on the first business day of July. No person while a member of the Board of License Commissioners shall have any connection, directly or indirectly, with the sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages in any form.
There shall be a Board of Recreation Commissioners consisting of five members and two alternates appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council, serving staggered three-year terms. The Board of Recreation Commissioners shall act in an advisory capacity to the Mayor. Any vacancy of a regular member of the Recreation Commission shall be filled by the appointment of an alternate member by the Mayor.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Art. V, Recreation Commission, of Ch. 34, Boards, Committees and Commissions, of the Code of the City of Greenfield.
(a) 
There shall be a Public Safety Commission consisting of seven members, all of whom shall be residents and registered voters of the City, appointed by the Mayor subject to provisions of Section 2-10.
(b) 
At the first meeting in each calendar year, the Commission shall elect a Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary and the Secretary shall keep a record of the Commission's meetings.
(c) 
The members shall serve four-year staggered terms. Commission members shall serve without compensation.
(d) 
Powers and duties. The Commission shall assist the Mayor in the supervision and oversight of all departments, including Police, Fire Emergency Management and Dispatch, including the coordination of the administration of all departments with one another, and with other City departments and agencies by making recommendations to the Mayor concerning;
1. 
Setting priorities within said departments;
2. 
The annual operating budgets of all departments, after the Mayor and Commission have met with the public safety department heads to discuss the proposed budgets;
3. 
The capital budget requests of all public safety departments, shall be submitted to the Mayor after the Commission has met with the public safety department heads to discuss the requests, provided, however, that Commission members may only inspect the departments on an annual basis in connection with the budget review. Inspections can include facility and equipment maintenance, department records, status of policies and procedures and reviews of any other aspect of the departments deemed necessary to the smooth operation of said departments. Inspections shall be made only after approval from the public safety department heads has been obtained to insure it will not disrupt department operations.
4. 
Final interviews for appointments and promotions of all personnel in the Police or Fire Department, shall be conducted by the Commission and the respective public safety department heads. The respective public safety department heads shall submit recommendations to the Commission and the Commission, if it does not agree with said recommendations, shall submit written reasons for not concurring with said recommendations to the Mayor. Appointments and promotions of public safety personnel shall be made in accordance with collective bargaining agreements and applicable General Laws, and local hiring policy requirements as defined by the Mayor, respectively.
(e) 
The Commission shall review written complaints made by the public concerning the operation and conduct of employees of both public safety departments.
All written complaints received shall be forwarded to the chief of the department to which they relate and the chief shall investigate or cause to be investigated said complaints and submit the chief's findings and recommendations, in connection therewith, that the chief deems appropriate.
The Commission shall adopt such rules and regulations, consistent with this Charter, the civil service statute and police and fire collective bargaining agreements, as it deems necessary to establish procedures to be followed in filing written complaints by the public, investigating complaints and holding hearings concerning complaints made to it regarding the operation of the Police or Fire Department and the conduct of officers and employees of each department. Citizen complaints shall be considered part of the employee's personnel file.
The Commission shall apply the principle of progressive discipline, except in instances where more severe punishment is warranted.
(f) 
Meetings.[1]
1. 
The Commission shall meet on a regular basis.
2. 
Special meetings may be called by the Mayor, Chair of the Commission or majority vote of the Commission.
3. 
Minutes shall be kept of all public meetings, including executive session in accordance with the open meeting laws.
4. 
The Commission may establish its own rules of procedure including those governing the conduct of its meetings.
[1]
Editor's Note: This subsection breakdown and title were added editorially at time of publication. Subsequent subsections were also redesignated accordingly.
(g) 
In the event of a vacancy, the Mayor shall make an appointment for the balance of said term subject to City Council approval pursuant to Section 2-10.
(h) 
No member of the Commission shall be an employee of the Police Department or Fire Department, nor shall any family member of a member of the Commission be an employee or retired member of the Police or Fire Department within 36 months of the Commission member's retirement date.
"Family member" shall mean parent, spouse, child, stepchild, grandchild, sibling, sibling-in-law, sibling's child and grandparent.
(i) 
Commission members shall be special municipal employees.
(a) 
There shall be a Board of Trustees of the Greenfield Public Library which shall consist of seven persons appointed by the Mayor, with approval by the City Council, for a term of three years so arranged that the terms shall be staggered.
(b) 
The Board of Trustees of the Public Library shall set policies that affect the internal operations of the Library. The Board shall have the custody and management of the Library and reading rooms and of all property, including Library trust funds, of the City Library devoted to Library purposes, subject to the following conditions: all funds raised or appropriated by the City for the support and maintenance of the Library shall be expended under the direction of the said Board subject to the approval of the Mayor. The Mayor, Library Director, and the Chairperson of the Library Trustees shall consult each other prior to the submission of the Library budget to the Mayor for appropriation.
(c) 
The Mayor shall, in addition, have the following powers and duties to appoint the Director upon the recommendation of the Board of Trustees and such Director shall be in charge of the day-to-day operations of the Library, subject to the personnel policies of the City and the Direction of the Board of Trustees.
(d) 
The Director shall, in addition, have the following powers and duties:
1. 
To appoint all other officers and employees connected with the Library upon the approval of the Mayor within the limits established by collective bargaining agreements or otherwise, to fix their salaries, define their duties, make rules concerning their tenure of office and to discharge them.
2. 
To make all reasonable rules and regulations for the operation and management of the Library in consultation with the Mayor.
(e) 
The Board of Trustees of the Public Library shall, in all matters of general municipal policy and procedures, be subject to policy directives designed to achieve uniformity and better administrative control as may from time to time be issued by the Mayor, with consultation of the Library Trustees. Responsibility for the ordinary maintenance of Library buildings and grounds may be transferred to a City Central Maintenance Department by ordinance adopted by the City Council. The Board of Trustees of the Public Library shall have all the other powers and duties as may be provided by General Law, by charter, by ordinance or otherwise.
(a) 
There shall be a Zoning Board of Appeals consisting of five members and two alternates appointed by the Mayor, approved by City Council for staggered terms of three years.
(b) 
The Zoning Board of Appeals shall have all powers which are conferred on Zoning Boards of Appeal by the General Laws and such additional powers and duties as may be provided by this Charter, by ordinance or otherwise.
(c) 
Any vacancy of a regular member of the Zoning Board of Appeals shall be filled by the appointment of an alternate member by the Mayor.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Art. IV, Zoning Board of Appeals, of Ch. 34, Boards, Committees and Commissions; and Part X, Zoning Board of Appeals Regulations, of the Code of the City of Greenfield.
(a) 
There shall be a Board of Assessors consisting of three members, to be elected at large by the voters, for staggered terms of four years.
(b) 
The Board of Assessors shall have all powers which are conferred on Board of Assessors by the General Laws and such additional powers and duties as may be provided by this Charter, by ordinance or otherwise.
(c) 
The principal assessor shall be a full-time employee of the City, hired by the Mayor and pursuant to the provisions of Section 6-3 of this charter relative to the Department of Municipal Finance.
(d) 
Term of office. The term of office for all elected members of the Board of Assessors shall be four years each, with staggered terms, beginning on the first business day of January after the City Election and until the member's successor has been qualified.
(a) 
There shall be two City Constables appointed by the Mayor for a term of three years.
(b) 
City Constables shall have all those powers granted to them by the General Laws and shall perform whatever duties authorized by law at the request of the Mayor.
(c) 
City Constables shall be paid an annual salary as voted by ordinance.
(a) 
There shall be a Board of Health consisting of three members appointed by the Mayor for a staggered term of three years, one of whom shall be a physician or a licensed qualified health care professional.
(b) 
The Board of Health shall have all those powers of all other Boards of Health in this commonwealth and all powers provided by the General Laws and whatever powers are granted to it by the City Council.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Part VII, Board of Health Regulations, of the Code of the City of Greenfield.
(a) 
There shall be a Board of Registrars of Voters consisting of four members, appointed by the Mayor, with City Council approval, in accordance with the General Laws.
(b) 
The members of the Board of Registrars shall receive such compensation for their services as set by ordinance.
(a) 
There shall be a Council on Aging consisting of not less than three and no more than 11 members, appointed by the Mayor for staggered three-year terms.
(b) 
The Council on Aging Director or designee shall consult with the Mayor prior to submission of the Council on Aging budget to the City Council for appropriation.
(c) 
The Council on Aging shall, in addition, have the following powers and duties: to select and submit to the Mayor for appointment the candidate to serve as Director of the Council on Aging who shall be charged with the day-to-day administration of the Senior Center, subject to the personnel policies of the City, the direction of the Mayor, and the ordinances and policies of the Council on Aging.
(d) 
The Council on Aging shall have management of the Senior Center. The director shall, in addition, have the following powers and duties: to hire all employees of the Senior Center, subject to the approval of the Mayor and within the limits established by collective bargaining agreements or otherwise; to define their duties; and to make recommendations for discharge.
(e) 
The Council on Aging shall have all other powers and duties as may be provided by all other applicable laws or otherwise granted by the City Council.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 49, Council on Aging; and Ch. 1301, Council on Aging Bylaws, of the Code of the City of Greenfield.
(a) 
The City Attorney shall be appointed by the Mayor for an indefinite term.
(b) 
The City Attorney shall be a member in good standing of the Bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and shall have sufficient experience and training in municipal law to represent the City in connection with its municipal affairs and before the Courts of this commonwealth and the United States.
(c) 
The City Attorney shall receive an annual salary and other benefits and allowances for expenses as voted by the City Council.
(d) 
He/She shall not represent any corporation, individual, business, committee, authority, board or political subdivision of any kind or description which contracts with or has any direct or indirect connection with the City. The Mayor may, upon complete disclosure by the City Attorney of his/her intent to represent any individual, corporation or entity, allow such representation provided the Mayor grants such permission in writing, a copy of which shall be filed with the City Clerk and shall be deemed a public record.
(e) 
Nothing in this section shall prevent the Mayor from retaining other counsel in order to represent the City from time to time as the Mayor deems appropriate.
(a) 
There shall be a Planning Board consisting of seven members; five members and two alternates appointed by the Mayor, with approval by City Council, serving staggered three-year terms.
(b) 
The Planning Board shall have all powers which are conferred on planning boards by General Laws and such additional powers and duties as may be provided by this Charter, by ordinance or otherwise.
(c) 
Any vacancy of a regular member of the Planning Board shall be filled by the appointment of an alternate member by the Mayor.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Art. VII, Planning Board, of Ch. 34, Boards, Committees and Commissions; and Part VIII, Planning Board Regulations, of the Code of the City of Greenfield.
(a) 
There shall be a Conservation Commission consisting of five members appointed by the Mayor, with approval by City Council, serving staggered three-year terms.
(b) 
The Conservation Commission shall have all powers which are conferred on Conservation Commissions by General Laws and such additional powers and duties as may be provided by this Charter, by ordinance or otherwise.
(c) 
Any vacancy of a regular member of the Conservation Commission shall be filled by the appointment of a new member by the Mayor
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Part IX, Conservation Commission Regulations, of the Code of the City of Greenfield.
(a) 
At the election, the voters shall, in every year when the terms of officers referred to herein expire, elect the following City officers for the following terms: three trustees of the A.K. Warner Trust for a term of two years; three trustees of the Jennie L. Bascom Education Fund for a term of two years; one elector under the Will of Oliver Smith for a term of two years; and such other officers as required by law to be elected.
(b) 
Any vacancy to the above-named elected offices shall be filled by the remaining members of the particular office and the Mayor at a joint meeting appointing an individual who shall serve until the next annual election.
(a) 
There shall be a Cable Advisory Board consisting of three regular members, and two alternates, appointed by the Mayor, with City Council approval, serving staggered three-year terms.
(b) 
Any vacancy of a regular member of the Cable Advisory Board shall be filled by the appointment of an alternate member by the Mayor.
(a) 
There shall be a Mayor's Task Force Against Domestic and Sexual Violence to advise the Mayor with regard to the formation of public policy, public education and outreach on domestic and sexual violence. The task force shall consist of seven members, three of whom shall be appointed by the Mayor with review by the City Council as provided in Section 2-10, and four of whom shall be appointed as provided in Subsection (c) and two alternate members appointed by the Mayor as above.
Alternate members shall sit on the committee in case of the absence, inability to act or apparent conflict of interest on the part of any committee member, or as part of a regularly scheduled rotation among the regular members.
(b) 
In making the mayoral appointments, the Mayor shall seek persons who are: (i) experienced in the field of youth services; (ii) members of relevant advocacy groups; (iii) mental health providers; (iv) probation officers in the district or superior court system; and (v) medical professionals on the staff at the Baystate Franklin Medical Center. The three members and two alternate members to be appointed by the Mayor shall serve for terms of three years.
(c) 
The remaining four members of the committee shall include: (i) a police officer designated by the Chief of Police; (ii) a representative of the Franklin County District Attorney's Office designated by the Franklin County district attorney; (iii) the Mayor or the Mayor's designee; and (iv) a City Councilor designated by the City Council President. The four remaining members shall serve for terms of two years.
(d) 
At least four members of the task force shall reside in the City of Greenfield. The committee shall meet at least twice annually and shall provide its members with notice of the meetings at least 15 days in advance of such meetings.
(e) 
The committee shall select a chair by majority vote of the members at a meeting duly called for that purpose.
(f) 
The terms of all of the members shall be so arranged so that at least two of the members' terms shall expire each year.