(a) 
There shall be a town administrator appointed by the select board with the powers and duties set forth in this charter. The town administrator shall have the appropriate education, training and administrative experience and shall have not less than 3 years of experience in public administration: (i) as a city or town administrator; (ii) as an assistant city or town administrator; or (iii) in a position with substantially similar functions to a city or town administrator or an assistant city or town administrator. The town administrator shall receive compensation for services as determined by the select board within the amount appropriated for such purposes.
(b) 
The town administrator shall, subject to appropriation, be a full-time position and the town administrator shall not hold any other elective or appointive office and shall not engage in any other business unless it is approved in advance in writing by the select board.
(c) 
Not less than annually, the select board shall evaluate the performance of the town administrator and shall designate 1 member of the board to prepare a fair and concise summary of the evaluation process and results. The summary shall be a public record.
(a) 
Vacancy - Upon a vacancy in the office of town administrator because of resignation, removal or otherwise, the select board may fill the office in the manner it deems to be in the best interests of the town, whether by making a direct appointment of a town administrator or by appointing a screening committee to recommend not less than 3 candidates for appointment. Candidates for appointment as town administrator shall be required to satisfy the minimum qualifications required by town by-laws or as set forth in the job description for town administrator, as it may exist from time to time, or have equivalent experience. If the board appoints a screening committee, it need not appoint a town administrator from amongst the candidates recommended by the screening committee and may, at the board's sole discretion, request the screening committee to provide additional candidates, disband the screening committee and appoint a new screening committee or make a direct appointment.
(b) 
Interim Town Administrator - Pending appointment of the town administrator pursuant to Subsection (a), the select board shall within a reasonable period of time appoint an interim town administrator to perform the duties of the town administrator. The interim town administrator may serve for not more than 6 months; provided, however, that the board may extend the appointment for not more than an additional 6 months if a permanent town administrator has not yet assumed the duties of the town administrator or if the search for a permanent town administrator is actively ongoing.
(c) 
Temporary Town Administrator - The town administrator shall, by a letter filed with both the select board and the town clerk, designate a qualified officer or employee of the town to serve as the temporary town administrator during a temporary absence or disability of not more than 14 days. If the temporary absence or disability exceeds 14 days, the select board may designate any qualified town officer or employee to serve as the interim town administrator until the return of the town administrator.
(a) 
The town administrator shall receive compensation for services as determined by the board; provided, however, that the compensation shall be within the limits of available appropriations. The board may enter into a contract with the town administrator pursuant to section 108N of chapter 41 of the General Laws for a period of time to provide for the salary, fringe benefits and other conditions of employment including, but not limited to, severance pay, relocation expenses, reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performances of duties or office, liability insurance and leave.
(a) 
Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the town administrator shall, based upon merit and qualifications, appoint all town employees except employees of the school department. The appointments of department heads or agents of appointed or elected multiple-member bodies shall become effective not later than 15 days following appointment; provided, however, that the select board may vote to sooner approve or reject any such appointment. The town administrator shall consider appointment of departmental employees after seeking, where appropriate, the input or recommendation of the respective department head. When appointing a department head, or an agent of an appointed or elected multiple-member body, that receives policy direction from a multiple-member body, the town administrator shall, prior to making such appointment, consult with the body as to the body's qualifications for the position and the intended process for identifying qualified candidates.
(b) 
Notwithstanding section 108A of chapter 41 of the General Laws and subject to any applicable collective bargaining agreements, individual employment contracts or town personnel by-laws, the town administrator or a designee shall be responsible for the classification, assignment, promotion, discipline, discharge or layoff of all town employees except employees of the school department.
(c) 
Subject to any applicable collective bargaining agreements, individual employment contracts or town personnel by-laws, policies established by each multiple-member body derived directly from and adopted to carry out their respective statutory authority shall be applicable to employees appointed by the town administrator; provided, however, that the employees shall be subject to administrative policies and procedures applicable to all employees.
The town administrator shall be the chief administrative officer of the town and shall be responsible to the select board for the proper operation of town affairs for which the town administrator is given responsibility under this charter. The board shall communicate to the town administrator its plans and policies so as to secure their effective implementation. The powers, duties and responsibilities of the town administrator shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) 
supervising, directing and being responsible for the efficient administration of all employees appointed by the town administrator and their respective departments and of all functions for which the town administrator is given responsibility, authority or control;
(b) 
administering, either directly or through persons supervised by the town administrator, general and special laws applicable to the town, town by-laws and all regulations established by the select board;
(c) 
coordinating all activities of town departments under the direction of the select board and the town administrator with the activities of departments under the control of officers, town boards or commissions elected directly by the voters of the town;
(d) 
keeping the select board fully informed as to the needs of the town and recommending to the board for adoption any measures requiring action by the board or by the town as the town administrator considers necessary or expedient;
(e) 
ensuring that complete and full records of the financial and administrative activity of the town are maintained and rendering reports to the select board as may be required;
(f) 
administering personnel policies, practices or rules and regulations, any compensation plan and any related matters for all municipal employees and administering all collective bargaining agreements entered into by the town except for school department agreements;
(g) 
fixing the compensation of all town employees appointed by the town administrator within the limits established by appropriation and any applicable compensation plan;
(h) 
serving as the chief procurement officer of the town for purposes of chapter 30B of the General Laws responsible for the procurement of all supplies, materials, services and equipment and awarding and executing contracts up to a particular dollar amount established by the select board for supplies, materials and equipment for all departments and activities of the town, except books and other instructional materials and supplies for school or library use, and except in case of emergency;
(i) 
negotiating all contracts with town employees for wages and other terms and conditions of employment, except employees of the school department, consistent with direction from the select board; provided, however, that the town administrator may, subject to the approval of the board, employ special counsel to assist in the performance of these duties; and provided further, that all collective bargaining agreements negotiated under this section shall be subject to the ratification of the board;
(j) 
executing warrants for payment of bills and payrolls prepared by the town accountant in accordance with section 56 of chapter 41 of the General Laws reporting the same to the select board at the first meeting following such action; provided, however, in the event of a temporary or permanent vacancy in the office of the town administrator, the select board shall have sole authority to sign such warrants;
(k) 
preparing and submitting an annual operating budget and capital improvement program;
(l) 
keeping the select board and the finance committee fully informed as to the financial condition of the town and making recommendations to the board and other elected and appointed officials as the town administrator considers necessary or expedient;
(m) 
investigating or inquiring into the affairs of any town department or office under the supervision of the town administrator or the job-related conduct of any officer or employee of the town administrator or delegating the authority to another person;
(n) 
performing other duties as necessary or as may be assigned by charter, by-law, town meeting vote or the select board;
(o) 
developing, implementing and overseeing an annual performance review procedure for department heads; provided, however, that performance evaluations for all other employees shall be developed and implemented with assistance, where appropriate, from the respective department head or multimember town board or committee; and
(p) 
appointing, in the event that a particular town office is changed from elected to appointed whether under section 1B or 21 of chapter 41 of the General Laws or any other general law, any such newly created appointed position; provided, however, that the elected incumbent holding office on the effective date of a change in the manner of selection from elected to appointed shall be considered the first appointee to the position and shall hold office for an indefinite term or the incumbent's sooner resignation, retirement or removal.