[HISTORY: Adopted by the Annual Town Meeting of the Town of Newbury 4-26-2005 by Art. 16. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Finance Committee — See Ch. 11.
There shall be a consolidated Department of Municipal Finance as provided for under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 43C, Section 11 and as provided for in the following section of this bylaw
This Department shall include the office of the Accountant and the Treasurer/Collector: Additionally, the Director of Municipal Finance, acting in an ex officio capacity, shall coordinate and assist the following financial committees: Finance Committee, Capital Budget Committee and Trust Fund Commissioners.
When in conflict, this bylaw shall prevail over other articles, the bylaws or statutes as provided for in MGL 43C.
There shall be a Director of Municipal Finance who shall be appointed by the Selectmen, and report to the Selectmen. The term of office for said position shall not be less than three years, nor more than five years, subject to removal as provided for in this bylaw.
The Director of Municipal Finance shall appoint the Accountant, and the Treasurer/Collector. subject to approval by the Selectmen. The Treasurer/Collector and Accountant shall appoint his/her own staff, subject to approval by the Director of Municipal Finance.
All officers appointed by the Director of Municipal Finance may be appointed for a term of office up to three (3) years.
The person holding the position of Director of Municipal Finance may also be appointed to hold other financial positions identified in this act, except that no one person shall hold both the Town Accountant and Treasurer/Collector poisition at the same time.
The Director of Municipal Finance may be removed for due cause as determined, and so voted upon, by the Board of Selectmen.
The functions of the Department of Municipal Finance shall include the following:
Coordination of all financial services and activities
Maintenance of all account records and other financial statements
Payment of all obligations
Receipt of all funds due, either directly or via the responsible department head
Assistance to all other town departments and offices in any matter related to financial affairs
Monitor the expenditure of all funds, including periodic reporting to the appropriate agencies on the status of accounts
Supervision of all purchases of goods, materials and supplies and the maintenance of inventory control
Supervision of all data-accessing facilities
The Director of Municipal Finance shall be responsible for the functions of the Department of Municipal Finance. He/she shall be specifically responsible for the annual budgeting process, beginning with the request and guidelines for submission of budget requests, through the consideration of budgets via support of the Finance Committee, up to the timely issuance of the resulting tax bills.
Any person holding any office or position in the service of the Town upon acceptance of this optional form of administration under MGL Chapter 43C, Section 11, who is employed in an office or agency which is affected by or reconstituted by the creation of this Department of Municipal Finance, shall be allowed to continue in the employ of the Town without reduction in compensation or impairment of any civil service, retirement, pension, seniority, vacation, sick leave, or other rights or benefits to which then entitled.
This bylaw shall take effect upon the expiration of the Treasurer/Collector's current term subject to the approval of the Attorney General.
At any time after four years following the date of an election at which this optional form of municipal administration is adopted by the voters, a question to revoke or rescind such acceptance may be submitted to the voters. Such question shall be in the following form: "Shall the Town of Newbury revoke its adoption of the Department of Municipal Finance optional form of municipal administration?"