[Amended 5-9-2022 ATM by Art. 15]
A three-member Select Board shall be the highest executive authority
of the Town. Select Board Sembers shall serve for three-year terms
and shall be elected at the regular Town elections. If a vacancy occurs
at any time on the Select Board, it shall be filled at a special election,
unless the vacancy occurs 90 days or less before the regular Town
elections, in which case it shall be filled at the regular election.
The Select Board shall have all powers it is possible for the
Select Board to hold under the Massachusetts General Laws, including
the enactment of rules and regulations to establish and implement
Town policies unless such powers are specifically assigned to some
other office or agency by this Charter or by a Bylaw that is not in
conflict with this Charter. The Select Board shall have the power
to investigate Town departments as provided in MGL c. 41, § 23B.
The Select Board shall appoint the Town Administrator; the Town
Counsel; a single individual to be both Treasurer and Collector in
accordance with the Town Bylaws; the Town Accountant; the Veterans'
Agent; the Fire Chief; the Police Chief; such inspectors as it judges
necessary to preserve the health, safety, and welfare of the Town's
citizens; the Superintendent of Public Works; the constables; the
Tree Warden; the Director of Civil Defense; members of the Water and
Sewer Commission; the Cemetery Commission; the Board of Health; Registrars
of Voters; the Board of Appeals for Zoning; Building Inspector; and
the Development and Industrial Commission. The Select Board may create
such additional other offices and boards as may be required for the
proper administration, health, or safety of the Town and may terminate
the same at its discretion. Terms of office for all positions and
the number of places on boards and commissions shall be determined
by the Select Board, but in no event shall any appointment exceed
a three-year term. Individuals who are appointed to offices and boards
may be reappointed by the Select Board as their terms expire. All
offices and agencies granted powers by the Constitution and the Massachusetts
General Laws shall retain and exercise those powers. The Select Board
may consolidate departments of Town government under their jurisdiction,
and boards, commissions, committees, and offices whose members they
appoint.
The Select Board shall prepare the annual budget for all offices
and departments for which they are responsible. They shall assemble
a budget, consisting of requests for expenditures and supporting material
for all offices, departments, boards, commissions, and committees
in the executive branch of Town government as set forth in this Article.
They shall deliver this budget to the Warrant Committee for its review
and recommendation no later than 90 days before the Annual Town Meeting.
The Warrant Committee shall act for the Town Meeting for this purpose.
The Select Board shall also prepare a capital and operations expenditure
plan containing a list of projects, project costs, and yearly expenditures
for five years in the future. Fiscal responsibilities of the Select
Board shall be exercised by the Town Administrator as set forth in
Article 4 of this Charter.
