The organization of the town into operating departments, divisions,
offices and agencies may be accomplished through either of the methods
provided in this article.
(a)
Bylaws. Subject to express prohibitions in state statutes and the
provisions of the Charter, the Town Meeting may, by bylaw, reorganize,
consolidate or abolish any town agency, in whole or in part, and establish
such new town agencies as it deems necessary or advisable and prescribe
the functions of all such entities; provided, however, that no function
assigned by this Charter to a particular town agency may be discontinued
or, unless this Charter specifically so provides, assigned to any
other.
(b)
Administrative Code. The select board, after consultation with the
Town Administrator, may from time to time prepare and submit to the
Town Meeting plans of organization or reorganization which establish
operating divisions for the orderly, efficient or convenient conduct
of the business of the town.
Whenever the select board prepares such a plan, it shall hold
one or more public hearings on the proposal, giving notice by publication
in a newspaper of general circulation in the town, which notice shall
describe the scope of the proposal and the time and place at which
the hearing will be held, not later than 14 days following said publication.
Following such public hearing, the select board shall submit its proposal,
which may have been amended subsequent to the public hearing, to the
Town Meeting by a warrant article.
An organization or reorganization plan shall become effective
at the expiration of 60 days following the date of the Town Meeting
at which the proposal is submitted by the select board, unless the
Town Meeting shall, by a majority vote within that time, vote to disapprove
the plan. The Town Meeting may vote only to approve or disapprove
the plan and may not vote to amend or alter it.
The select board may, through the Administrative Code and subject
to express prohibitions in state statutes and this Charter, reorganize,
consolidate or abolish all town agencies in whole or in part and establish
such new town agencies as it deems necessary 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 town, transfer the appropriation
of one town agency to another; provided, however, that no function
assigned by this Charter to a particular town agency may be discontinued
or, unless this Charter specifically so provides, assigned to any
other.
[Amended by Chapter 163 of
the Acts of 2020]
For the convenience of the public, the Administrative Code and
any amendments thereto shall be printed as an appendix to, but not
an integral part of, the bylaws of the Town of Easton. The Personnel
Plan, as prepared by the Town Administrator, shall be published annually
in the Town Report.
All appointments and promotions of town officers and employees
shall be made solely on the basis of merit and fitness demonstrated
by examination or other evidence of competence and suitability.
[Amended by Chapter 163 of
the Acts of 2020]
There shall be a Department of Public Works headed by a Director
of Public Works, who shall be either the Town Administrator or a Director
of Public Works appointed by the Town Administrator. The appointment
of a Director of Public Works by the Town Administrator shall become
effective on the 15th day following the day notice of the appointment
is filed with the select board, unless the select board shall, within
that period, by a majority of all of its members, vote to reject such
appointment. The Director of Public Works so appointed shall be a
person especially fitted by education, training or previous experience
to perform the duties of the office.
The Director of Public Works shall be responsible for the supervision
and coordination of all public works operations of the town which
are placed under the director's control by this Charter, by bylaw,
by vote of the town or otherwise. Public works operations may include,
but need not be limited to, the following operations: refuse collection
and disposal, sewerage, water supply and distribution, forestry services
and maintenance of physical plant.
The Department of Public Works shall assume all the duties and
responsibilities and perform all of the functions, including but not
limited to those which, prior to adoption of this Charter, were performed
by the Tree Warden, Moth Superintendent, Highway Department and Water
Department.
Other offices, the function of which are related to a Department
of Public Works, may from time to time be assigned to the Department
in accordance with bylaws or an Administrative Code, as provided in
§ C5-1.
The select board, acting through the Town Administrator, shall
be responsible for the overall supervision of the Department of Public
Works and for the establishment of priorities to govern the operation
of the Department; provided, however, that the select board shall
not in any way become involved with the day-to-day operations of the
said Department.
(a)
Composition; term of office. There shall be a Water Resource Advisory
Commission consisting of three members appointed by the select board
for overlapping terms of three years.
[Amended by Chapter 163 of
the Acts of 2020]
(b)
Powers and duties. The Water Resource Advisory Commission shall be
responsible for advising the town on the adequacy in quantity and
quality of the public water supply. It may recommend that the town
take by eminent domain or acquire, by purchase or otherwise, and hold
the waters or any portion thereof of any pond, brook, spring, stream
or groundwater sources within town limits not already appropriated
for purposes of public water supply and any water or flowage rights
connected therewith, and also for said purpose it may recommend that
the town may take by eminent domain or acquire, by purchase or otherwise,
and hold all lands, rights-of-way and other easements necessary for
collecting, storing, holding, purifying and treating such water and
protecting and preserving the purity thereof.
