Description of Services
The Town Manager is appointed by the
Board of Selectmen to oversee the daily operations of the Town,
advise and administer the policies and procedures of the Board, and
enforce Town by-laws and actions passed at Town Meeting. The
Manager’s authority and responsibilities are established in the
Selectmen-Town Manager Act of 1968.
Organizational Direction and
Administration includes for day-to-day oversight for all general
government departments, town-wide staff training and professional
development, special projects and website management. This function
also implements all decisions of Board of Selectmen and provides
staff support to various Town committees.
The Town Manager submits to the Board of Selectmen a
proposed annual budget that includes revenue, expenditure, and tax
rate projections for the upcoming fiscal year. The Manager also
submits a Capital Budget and a five-year Capital Improvement Program
to the Board of Selectmen on an annual basis. The primary budget
staff role was moved to the Finance Department with the creation of
the Budget Officer position. The Town Manager's staff continues to
provide budget support and prepares presentations for the Annual
Town Meeting.
Staff in the Town Manager’s Office also provides
information, materials, and technical assistance to boards,
committees, commissions, and the public.
Staff members in the Town Manager’s
Office are responsible for managing the personnel, benefits, and
risk management functions of the Town. These include the formulation
and implementation of personnel policies, collective bargaining,
wages and salaries administration, recruitment, workers’
compensation, police/fire medical administration, and unemployment
benefits. Personnel records are managed and maintained by staff in
this office. The Town Manager appoints new employees and determines
employee compensation. In addition, the Manager negotiates all
contracts with the Town’s union and associations' employees.
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