Except as to types of reorganizations otherwise expressly prohibited
by general law or by the charter, the town council may, by ordinance,
reorganize, consolidate or abolish any existing town agency, in whole
or in part, establish new town agencies and prescribe the functions
of any town agency. All town agencies under the direction and supervision
of the town manager shall be headed and administered by officers appointed
by the manager.
(a)Â
Submission - The town manager may, from time to time, prepare and
submit to the town council reorganization plans which may, unless
expressly prohibited by general law or this charter, reorganize, consolidate
or abolish any existing town agency, in whole or in part, establish
new town agencies and prescribe the functions of any town agency.
Each such reorganization plan shall be accompanied by an explanatory
message when submitted to the town council.
(b)Â
Council Action - Every such reorganization plan shall, upon receipt
by the town council, be referred to an appropriate standing committee
of the town council for study and report. Within 30 days following
its referral to a committee, a public hearing shall be held concerning
the proposal, either before the standing committee or before the full
town council. Within 14 days following the conclusion of the public
hearing, the standing committee to which such matter was referred
shall file a report stating either that it approves of the reorganization
plan or that it disapproves of it. A reorganization plan shall become
effective on the sixtieth day following the date of its receipt by
the town council, unless a later date is specified in the reorganization
plan, or unless the town council has, within such period, voted to
disapprove of it. A reorganization plan submitted by the town manager
under this section may not be amended by the town council and shall
either be approved or disapproved in the form as submitted.
An up-to-date record of reorganization plans under section 6-2(b) shall be kept on file in the office of the town clerk and copies of all such plans shall be published as an appendix to any publication of the ordinances of the town.
