21. Powers and duties in particular
The Town Manager shall have power, and it shall be his or her duty:
(1) To organize, operate, continue, or discontinue any departments as the Selectboard may determine.
(2) To carry out the policies laid down by the Board, to keep the Board informed of the financial condition and future needs of the Town, and to make any reports as may be required by law or requested by the Board, together with any other reports and recommendations that he or she may deem advisable.
(3) To appoint and remove, upon merit and fitness alone, all subordinate officials, employees, and agents under his or her control and, with the approval of the Selectboard, to fix their compensation as provided in subsection 39(c) of this charter. Although the Town Manager may hold subordinate officers and employees of the Town responsible for the faithful discharge of their duties, the Town Manager shall remain ultimately responsible to the Board for all administrative actions under his or her jurisdiction.
(4) To be present at all regular meetings of the Selectboard, except when excused by the Board, and to have the right to attend all other meetings of the Board and its committees, except when his or her removal or suspension is being discussed, provided that this section shall not be construed to deny any right the Town Manager may otherwise have to a public hearing relative to his or her removal.
(5) To keep full and complete records of the actions of his or her office, to keep necessary accounts, to render to the Selectboard an itemized monthly report showing in detail the disbursements of the preceding month, and to maintain an appropriate budget control system.
(6) To keep the Selectboard fully advised as to the needs of the Town within the scope of the Manager’s duties and annually to furnish to them, as prescribed in this charter, a detailed budget proposal, and also to furnish to them annually a five-year projection of capital improvements for the Town. To enable the Town Manager to make estimates of expenditures and receipts, all boards, officers, and committees of the Town shall, upon his or her written request, furnish all information in their possession and submit to him or her in writing a detailed estimate of anticipated income and appropriations required for the efficient and proper conduct of their respective responsibilities during the next fiscal year.
(7) To examine or cause to be examined, with or without notice, the affairs of any department under his or her control, or the conduct of any officer or employee thereof. For that purpose, he or she shall have access to all books and papers of the department for the information necessary for the proper performance of his or her duties.
(8) To be the General Purchasing Agent of the Town and purchase all supplies for every department.
(9) To supervise all special programs of the Town as if the same were a separate department of the Town, unless otherwise voted by the Town.
(10) To have charge, control, and supervision of the following matters:
(A) the Police Department, including appointment and removal of the Chief, with the consent of the Selectboard;
(B) any Town Fire Department supported by Town funds, including the appointment and removal of the Chief, with the consent of the Selectboard;
(C) the system of licenses not otherwise regulated by law;
(D) the system of sewers and drainage;
(E) lighting of highways, bridges, and public places;
(F) construction and maintenance of Town highways;
(G) town buildings, and repairs and construction on Town buildings;
(H) maintenance of parks, playgrounds, forests, and other public lands, unless otherwise provided for in the Administrative Code;
(I) any public water system owned or operated by the Town.
(11) To cause duties prescribed for towns and not committed to the care of any particular officer to be duly performed and executed.
(12) To participate in the discussion of matters coming before the Selectboard and its committees, but not the right to vote.
(13) To perform other duties that may be required of him or her by vote of the Selectboard, by law, or by ordinance, consistent with this charter.
Amended 2019, No. M-1, § 2, eff. April 19, 2019.
