Section 3-2 Board of Selectmen
There shall be a board of selectmen consisting of five (5) members elected for terms of
three years each, so arranged that the term of office of as nearly an equal number of
members as is possible shall expire each year.
Vacancies in the office of selectmen shall be filled by a special election in accordance
with the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws.
The executive powers of the town shall be vested in the board of selectmen which shall
be deemed to be the chief executive office of the town. The board of selectmen shall
have all of the executive powers it is possible for a board of selectmen to have and to
exercise. The board of selectmen shall serve as the chief policy making agency of the
town. The board of selectmen shall be responsible for the formulation and promulgation
of policy directives and guidelines to be followed by all town agencies serving under it,
and in conjunction with other elected town officers and multiple member bodies to
develop and promulgate policy guidelines designed to bring the operation of all town
agencies into harmony. Provided however, nothing in this section shall be construed to
authorize any member of the board of selectmen, nor a majority of such members, to
become involved in the day-to-day administration of any town agency. It is the intention
of this provision that the board of selectmen shall act only through the adoption of broad
policy guidelines, which are to be implemented by officers and employees serving under
it.
The board of selectmen shall cause the charter, by-laws, and rules and regulations for
the government of the town to be enforced and shall cause an up-to-date record of all
its official acts to be kept.
The board of selectmen shall appoint a town manager as provided for in Article IV of this
charter and shall appoint a town counsel.
The board of selectmen may investigate the affairs of the town and the conduct of any
town agency including any doubtful claims against the town, and for this purpose may
subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony, and require the production of
evidence. The report of the results of such investigation shall be placed on file in the
office of the town manager, and a report summarizing the results of such investigation
shall be printed in the next annual town report.
The board of selectmen shall be the licensing board of the town and shall have the
power to issue licenses, to make all necessary rules and regulations regarding the
issuance of such licenses, and to attach such conditions and restrictions thereto as it
deems to be in the public interest. The board of selectmen shall enforce the laws
relating to all businesses for which it issues such licenses. The board of selectmen may
delegate such licensing authority unless specifically prohibited by the laws of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
In the event that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts fails in any fiscal year to provide
for the independent audit of all records and accounts of the town, the board of
selectmen shall provide for such audits. The audits shall be made by a certified public
accountant, or firm of such accountants, who have no personal interests, direct or
indirect, in the fiscal affairs of the town government or any of its officers.
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