5-1-1.
The organization of the town into operating agencies for the provision
of services and the administration of the government may be accomplished
through either of the methods provided in this article.
5-1-2.
By-Laws. The town meeting may, by by-law, reorganize, consolidate,
create, merge, divide or abolish any town agency, in whole or in part;
establish new town agencies as it deems necessary or advisable; determine
the manner of selection, the term of office 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.
5-1-3.
Administrative code. The town administrator, after consultation within
the board of selectmen, may from time to time prepare and submit to
the town meeting plans for organization or reorganization which establish
operating divisions for the orderly, efficient or convenient conduct
of the business of the town.
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Whenever the town administrator prepares such a plan, the board
of selectmen shall hold one or more public hearings on the proposal
giving notice by publication in a local newspaper, which notice shall
describe the scope of the proposal and the date, time and place at
which the hearing will be held, not less than seven (7) nor more than
fourteen (14) days following said publication. Following such public
hearing, the proposal, which may have been amended subsequent to the
public hearing, shall be submitted to the town meeting by an appropriate
warrant article.
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5-1-4.
An organization or reorganization plan shall become effective at
the expiration of sixty (60) days following the date of adjournment
of the town meeting at which the proposal is submitted unless the
town meeting shall, by a majority vote, vote to disapprove the plan.
The town meeting may vote only to approve or to disapprove the plan
and may not vote to amend or to alter it.
5-1-5.
The town administrator may, through the administrative code, reorganize,
consolidate or abolish any town agency, in whole or in part; establish
such new town agencies as is deemed necessary to the same extent as
is provided in section 5-1-2, above, for by-laws; 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 (1) 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 so specifically provides, be assigned to any
other.
5-2-1.
For the convenience of the public, the administrative code and any
amendments hereto shall be printed as an appendix to, but not an integral
part of, the by-laws of the town. The personnel and staffing plan,
as prepared by the town administrator, in conformity with article
4, section 2, shall be published annually in the town report. The
school committee and the library trustees shall provide the town administrator
with copies of their respective personnel and staffing plans annually
for publication in the town report.
5-3-1.
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.
5-4-1.
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 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.
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.
5-4-2.
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 his control by this charter, by by-law, 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, sewer, water supply and distribution, forestry services
and maintenance of town infrastructure, including town parks and cemeteries.
5-4-3.
Other offices, the functions of which are related to a department
of public works, may from time to time be assigned to the department
in accordance with by-laws or an administrative code, as provided
in this article, section I.
5-4-4.
The board of selectmen, acting through the town administrator, shall
be responsible for the overall policy decisions of the department
of public works and for the establishment of priorities to govern
the operation of the department provided, however, that the board
of selectmen shall not in any way become involved with the day to
day operations of said department.
5-5-1.
There shall be a finance office in the town, with a chief financial
officer as its head and including an appointed treasurer-collector
and an appointed board of assessors which shall, in matters dealing
with town finance, be responsible to the chief financial officer.
5-5-2.
The scope and functions of the finance office shall be to provide
the coordination of all financial services and activities and provide
assistance to all other town departments in any matter related to
finances; and other such functions related to the fiscal management
and planning of the town.
5-5-3.
The chief financial officer and other officers and employees of the
finance office shall operate in matters related to finance under the
oversight and direction of the town administrator and shall assist
the administrator in providing required and interim reports and preparing
materials for the budget process, as specified in article 6, section
4 of this charter.
5-6-1.
Term of office. The town administrator shall appoint for a three
(3) year term a treasurer-collector who shall be assigned to the finance
office, as provided in section 5-5-1 above, and shall work under the
supervision of the chief financial officer.
5-6-2.
Powers and duties. The treasurer-collector shall provide for the
administrative, supervisory and technical work involving the receipt,
disbursement and investment of town funds, the borrowing of monies
and the collection of all taxes and such fees, as determined by by-law
or town meeting vote, due to the town. The treasurer-collector shall
also have such other powers and duties as are given to treasurers
and collectors, or either of them, by M.G.L.A., by this charter, by
by-law or by other vote of the town meeting.
5-7-1.
There shall be a capital improvements committee which shall consider
the relative need, timing, cost, completeness of planning, community
support, availability of outside funding and other factors said committee
members shall deem appropriate to the individual proposed expenditures
and the effect each will have on the financial position of the town.
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Membership, terms of office, method of appointment and additional
functions of the capital improvements committee shall be determined
by town by-law.
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5-8-1.
There shall be a department of inspection headed by the inspector
of buildings/zoning agent as its director, and include the following:
weights and measures; wires; gas and plumbing; building; health agent.
5-8-2.
The department of inspection shall provide for consolidation of inspection
operations, coordination of functions, centralized planning of work
assignment and distribution, timely inspection services, centralized
record keeping, and management of manpower resources.
5-8-3.
The town administrator shall appoint the inspector of buildings for
a three (3) year term and inspectors for weights and measures, wires,
and gas and plumbing for terms of one (1) year as currently established
by M.G.L.A., by this charter, by by-law or by town meeting vote. The
town administrator may appoint assistants to any of the referenced
inspectors in this section as provided by town by-law or town meeting
vote.
5-8-4.
The board of health shall appoint a health agent for a term of one
(1) year.
5-9-1.
There shall be a tree warden appointed by the town administrator
for a three (3) year term. The tree warden shall be responsible for
the full care and control of all public shade trees, respond to public
safety emergencies related to fallen limbs or trees on public ways,
and assess and provide for the culling and trimming of public shade
trees.
5-9-2.
The tree warden shall hold or participate in a public hearing jointly
with the planning board related to matters concerning designated scenic
roads in accordance with town by-law and M.G.L.A.
