Town Manager

Rodney C. Collins

The executive powers of the Town are vested in a five-person Select Board, the members of which serve staggered three-year terms.  The Select Board serves as the chief policy-making authority of the Town.  The Select Board is responsible for the formulation and promulgation of policy directives, in conjunction with other elected Town officers and multiple-member bodies, designed to bring the operations of all Town agencies into harmony.  The Select Board is the licensing board for the Town and has the power to issue licenses authorized by law, and to make all necessary rules and regulations regarding the issuance of such licenses, and to impose restrictions on such licenses.  This includes administering licensing and permitting for the sale of alcohol, entertainment, amusements, auto sales, vehicles for hire, signs placed in the public layout, and other miscellaneous local licenses.  The Select Board also oversees the conversion of private roads and the assessment of betterments.  The Select Board appoints the Town Manager, Constables, Board of Registrars of voters and other election officers (not including the Town Clerk), a Board of Assessors, a Board of Appeals, a Sewer Commission, and other such members of the Town to the governing or advisory bodies of area, county, regional or district authorities, and where no other provision is made in the law or agreement establishing any such entity.  The Select Board is responsible for establishing the Warrant (agenda) for all Town Meetings.

The Town Manager is the appointing authority for all employees, except those otherwise specifically provided by Charter.  The Town Manager is responsible for the daily operations of all departments within Town government under his authority.  All department heads, except for the elected Town Clerk, report directly to the Town Manager.  The Town Manager is responsible for the administration of a Town personnel system, including but not limited to personnel policies and practices, and rules and regulations including provisions for annual employee performance reviews, personnel bylaw and collective bargaining agreements.  The Town Manager exercises full jurisdiction over the rental and use of all Town building and facilities, and is responsible for the maintenance and repair of all Town buildings and facilities placed under his control by Charter or otherwise.  The Town Manager prepares and presents a proposed annual operating budget for the Town and a proposed capital outlay program.  The Town Manager negotiates all contracts involving any subject within the jurisdiction of his office, including contracts with Town employees, except employees under the School Committee, involving wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. The Town Manager delivers such contracts to the Select Board for ratification.  The Town Manager is the Chief Procurement Officer of the Town, and is responsible for purchasing all supplies, materials, and equipment for all departments and activities of the Town as provided in Chapter 30B of the General Laws.  The Town Manager may reorganize, consolidate or abolish, in a manner provided in Article 5 of the Town Charter, in whole or in part, Town agencies serving under his supervision; provide for new Town agencies; and provide for a reassignment of powers, duties, and responsibilities among such agencies so established or existing.  The Town Manager performs any other duties as are required to be performed pursuant to Town bylaws, administrative code or votes of the Select Board.

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