THE TOWN ADMINISTRATOR
Section l Appointment and qualifications
4-1-1 The Town Council, by a majority vote of its full membership,shall appoint a Town Administrator who shall administer andimplement the directives and policies adopted by the Town Council. The Council shall fix the Administrator's compensation within thelimits of an appropriation adopted for that purpose. The salary,benefits and terms and conditions of employment and the procedures for dismissal shall be negotiated between the Town Council and the Administrator.
4-1-2 In seeking candidates for the Administrator's post, the Town Council shall advertise in appropriate professional journals and other suitable publications as deemed necessary. The Town Administrator need not be a resident of the town at the time of appointment but shall establish residence within the town within one year following appointment, unless the town council shall waive such residency requirement. If a resident of the Town, the successful candidate shall have held no elective town office for a period of one year prior to appointment.
4-1-3 The Administrator shall be appointed on the basis of educational, executive and administrative qualifications and experience, including at least a bachelor's degree in an appropriate field of study from an accredited four-year college or university. Professional experience shall consist of at least three (3) years of full-time, compensated service in town or town administration or related administrative activity.
Section 2 Powers and duties
4-2-1 The Town Administrator shall be the chief administrative officer of the Town and shall be responsible to the Council for the effective administration of all town affairs placed in his charge by or under this Charter.
4-2-2 The Administrator shall hold no elective or other appointive town office, shall devote full-time to the duties of the office and shall engage in no other business or occupation without the advance written authorization of the Council.
4-2-3 The Administrator shall: (a) attend all meetings of the Council except when excused and have the right to speak but not to vote; (b) keep the Council fully informed regarding Town and departmental operations, fiscal affairs, general problems and administrative actions and submit appropriate periodic reports; (c) keep the Council fully informed as to the long-range needs of the Town, the practices and governmental trends of other communities and the laws and regulations of the Commonwealth and make such recommendations to the Council as deemed necessary and appropriate; (d) prepare, assemble and present to the Council the annual Town operating and capital budgets and cooperate with the Finance Committee in all financial matters; (e) serve as general ombudsman for the Town; (f) maintain an inventory of all town real and
personal property; (g) be responsible for the daily administration of the personnel system, including the maintenance of personnel records and enforcement of personnel rules and regulations; (h) serve as central purchasing agent; (i) be responsible for the maintenance of all buildings and property owned or leased by the Town, except that under the jurisdiction of the School Committee; and (j) perform such other duties as may be required by this Charter, bylaw or order of the Council.
4-2-4 The Administrator may, with the approval of the Council, within the departments and agencies under his jurisdiction, establish, reorganize or consolidate any department, board, commission or office.
4-2-5 Subject to ratification by the Town Council, the Administrator shall have the power to appoint; on the basis of merit and fitness alone: (a) a Fire Chief, a Police Chief, a Director of Public Works, a Town Accountant, a Town Counsel, a Director of Civil Defense, a Library Director, all inspectors except as otherwise provided by general law and three (3) registrars of voters; (b) nine (9) members of a Council on Aging, seven (7) members of a Conservation Commission, seven (7) members of an Historic Commission and three (3) members of a Zoning Board of Appeals, all for three-year overlapping terms of office; (c) fifteen (15) members of an Industrial and Development Commission and five (5) members of an Industrial Development Financing Authority, all for five-year overlapping terms of office; (d) five (5) members of a
Personnel Board for terms as fixed through bylaw; (e) four (4) members of a Housing Authority and four (4) members of a Redevelopment Authority, all for five-year overlapping terms of office with the fifth member of each board to be appointed under the authority of the Commonwealth; and (f) members of such other boards, commissions and committees and individual town officers and employees as are authorized by general law, this Charter or bylaw and for whom appointment is not otherwise provided.
Section 3 Removal of the Town Administrator
4-3-1 Final removal of any town administrator shall be effected by a majority vote of the full town council at an open council meeting.
Section 4 Acting Town Administrator
4-4-1 The Town Council may designate a qualified to serve as the Acting
Town Administrator and to perform the duties of the office during the
period of any vacancy caused by the Administrator's absence, illness,suspension, removal or resignation. The appointment shall be for a period not to exceed one hundred twenty (120) days, but such appointment may be extended an additional sixty (60) days by vote of the Council.
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