4-1-1. 
The town administrator shall be appointed by the board of selectmen for a three (3) year term, shall be the chief administrative officer of the town and be responsible to the board of selectmen for the administration of all town affairs placed in his charge by or under the charter. The town administrator shall be a person especially fitted by education which shall consist of at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited degree-granting college or university, and his professional experience shall include previous, full-time, compensated service in a managerial capacity in public or business administration.
4-1-2. 
The town administrator need not be a resident of the town or the commonwealth at the time of his appointment. He must however establish residence within the town within twelve (12) months following his appointment. The board of selectmen may waive the residency requirement.
4-1-3. 
The town administrator shall hold no elected or other appointed 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 board of selectmen.
4-1-4. 
The town administrator shall not have served in an elected office in the town government for at least twelve (12) months prior to his appointment.
4-2-1. 
The town administrator shall appoint and may remove, subject to civil service law or the “strong chief’s” law (Ch. 48, sec. 42. 43 & 44 of the M.G.L.A.), where applicable, all department heads, all officers and all subordinates and employees of the town except for employees of the school committee and library trustees, appointments made by representatives of the commonwealth, and those appointments for which another method of appointment is provided in M.G.L.A., in this charter, or in the town by-laws. Appointments made by the town administrator shall be filled at a regularly scheduled meeting of the board of selectmen and shall become effective upon confirmation by a majority of the board of selectmen.
4-2-2. 
The town administrator shall direct and supervise the administration of all functions under his control.
4-2-3. 
The town administrator shall prepare and submit the annual capital budget and capital outlay program as provided in article 6, section 4.
4-2-4. 
The town administrator shall attend all regular and special meetings of the board of selectmen, unless excused at his own request, and shall have a voice, but no vote, in all of its discussions.
4-2-5. 
The town administrator shall attend all sessions of the town meetings and answer all questions directed to him by the voters of the town.
4-2-6. 
The town administrator shall see that all provisions of the M.G.L.A., of the charter, of by-laws, and of votes of the town meeting and of the board of selectmen which require enforcement by him or officers subject to his direction and supervision are faithfully carried out.
4-2-7. 
The town administrator shall administer all provisions of general and special laws applicable to the town, to the charter, to the by-laws and votes of the town, and all rules and regulations made by the selectmen which lie within the scope of the powers and duties of the office.
4-2-8. 
The town administrator shall negotiate all contracts involving any subject within the jurisdiction of the office of town administrator, including contracts with town employees, except employees of the school department, the director of the public library and other professional librarians, and involving wages, hours and other terms and conditions of employment.
4-2-9. 
The town administrator shall have full jurisdiction over the rental and use of all town facilities, except schools, library, and properties designated by by-law or other vote of the town. He shall be responsible for the maintenance and repair of all town property, excluding school buildings and library, place under his control by the charter, by by-law or otherwise.
(a) 
The town administrator shall be responsible for the keeping of full and complete records of the financial and administrative activities of the town and shall render a full report to the board of selectmen at the end of each fiscal year and otherwise as said board may require.
(b) 
As required by M.G.L.A., Sect. 30 b. Uniform Procurement Act, the town administrator shall be the certified procurement officer responsible for the purchase of all supplies, materials, and equipment, except books and other educational materials for schools and books, supplies, materials, equipment and other media materials for the library, and approve the award of all contracts for all town departments with the exception of the school department and public library, subject to the approval of the board of selectmen.
4-2-10. 
The town administrator shall keep full and complete inventory of all property of the town, both real and personal.
4-2-11. 
The town administrator may at any time inquire into the conduct of office of any officer or employee, or department under his jurisdiction.
4-2-12. 
The town administrator shall perform such other duties consistent with the office as may be required by by-law, vote of the town, or board of selectmen.
4-3-1. 
Temporary absence. By letter filed with the town clerk, the town administrator shall designate a qualified town administrative officer or employee to exercise the powers and perform the duties of town administrator during a temporary absence. During a temporary absence the board of selectmen may not revoke such designation until at least ten (10) working days have elapsed, whereupon it may appoint another qualified town administrative officer or employee to serve until the town administrator shall return.
4-3-2. 
Vacancy. Any vacancy in the office of the town administrator shall be filled as soon as possible by the board of selectmen, but, pending such regular appointment the board of selectmen shall appoint a qualified administrative officer to perform the duties of the office on an acting basis. Such temporary appointment may not exceed three (3) months, but one renewal may be voted by the board of selectmen not to exceed the second three (3) months. Compensation for such person shall be set by the board of selectmen.
4-3-3. 
Powers and duties. The powers of temporary or acting town administrator, under sections 4-3-1 and 4-3-2 above, shall be limited to matters which should not be delayed and shall include authority to make temporary, emergency appointments or designations to town office or employment but not to make permanent appointments or designations.
4-4-1. 
The board of selectmen may for cause, by the affirmative vote of four (4) of its members, terminate and remove, or suspend, the town administrator from office in accordance with the following procedure.
(a) 
The board of selectmen shall adopt a preliminary resolution of removal by the affirmative vote of four members which must state the reason or reasons for removal. This preliminary resolution may suspend the town administrator for a period not to exceed forty-five (45) days. A copy of the resolution shall be delivered to the town administrator forthwith.
(b) 
Within five (5) days after receipt of the preliminary resolution the town administrator may request a public hearing by filing a written request for such hearing with the board of selectmen. This hearing shall be held at a meeting of the board of selectmen not later than thirty (30) days after the request is filed nor earlier than twenty (20) days. The town administrator may file a written statement responding to the reasons stated in the resolution of removal with the board of selectmen provided the same is received at its office more than forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the public hearing.
(c) 
The board of selectmen may adopt a final resolution of removal, which may be made effective immediately, by the affirmative vote of four of its members not less than ten (10) nor more than twenty-one (21) days following the date of delivery of a copy of the preliminary resolution to the town administrator, if the town administrator has not requested a public hearing; or within ten (10) days following the close of the public hearing if the town administrator has requested one. Failure to adopt a final resolution of removal within the time periods as provided in this section shall nullify the preliminary resolution of removal and the town administrator shall at the expiration of said time, forthwith resume the duties of the office.
(d) 
Faced with action by the board of selectmen to terminate, remove or suspend, the town administrator shall be afforded all of the provisions provided municipal employees under M.G.L.A. Ch. 39, Sect. 23 b, Open Meeting Law.
4-4-2. 
The action of the board of selectmen in suspending or removing the town administrator shall be final, it being the intention of this provision to vest all authority and fix all responsibility for such suspension or removal solely in the board of selectmen.
4-5-1. 
The town administrator shall have the authority to appoint all technical and operational positions of the town, and other such positions as may be created by M.G.L.A., by this charter, by by-law or by vote of the town. A listing of appointments authorized at the time of this charter is provided in article 8. section 3-1, c. 3, the town administrative organization.
4-6-1. 
If a conflict relating to a policy issue arises between the town administrator and a department head, the department head may appeal the administrator’s decision to the board of selectmen. The board of selectmen shall act as arbitrator between the department head and the town administrator and shall resolve the conflict regarding policy. The board of selectmen’s decision on policy shall be final and binding on both the town administrator and the department head.