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.