The text
Sec. 301. - Office; selection; term.#
There shall be a town administrator who shall be the chief executive officer of the town, head of the administrative branch of government and ceremonial head of the town. He shall be elected at the general election in each even-numbered year for a term of two (2) years and until his successor is elected and qualified. His term shall begin on the first Monday in December following his election.
Sec. 302. - Qualifications.#
The town administrator shall be a qualified elector of the town. No paid employee or official of the town shall hold the office of town administrator, except that current service as notary public, justice of the peace or membership in the National Guard shall not disqualify a person from serving as town administrator. The office of town administrator shall be deemed vacant in the event the incumbent shall cease to meet the foregoing qualifications. The town administrator shall not be eligible to accept any other paid local town office or employment during his tenure of office, and he must devote full time to the duties of his office.
Sec. 303. - Compensation.#
The town administrator shall receive such salary as shall be set biennially by the town council prior to the beginning of his term. His salary shall not be altered following his election or during the term of office for which he shall have been elected. Editor's note— The town administrator's salary for the term beginning the first Monday in December, 2001 shall be $57,500.00; for the term beginning the first Monday in December, 2002 shall be $60,000.00; for the term beginning the first Monday in December, 2003 shall be $62,500.00, pursuant to Ord. No. 2000-15, § 1, adopted May 31, 2000; for the term beginning the first Monday in December, 2004 shall be $65,000.00; for the term beginning the first Monday in December, 2005 shall be $67,500.00, pursuant to Ord. No. 2004-15, adopted June 2, 2004; for the term beginning the first Monday in December, 2006 shall be $71,500.00, pursuant to Ord. No. 2006-17, adopted July 19, 2006; for the term beginning the first Monday in December, 2007 shall be $75,500.00, pursuant to Ord. No. 2006-17, adopted July 19, 2006. The town administrator's salary beginning July 1, 2019, shall be the sum of $85,500.00 and the town administrator's salary beginning July 1, 2020, shall be the sum of $95,500.00, pursuant to Ord. No. 2018-15, adopted Nov. 28, 2018.
Sec. 304. - Absence or disability.#
The town administrator may designate by letter filed with the town clerk a qualified administrative officer of the town to perform his duties during his temporary absence or disability. In the event of failure of the town administrator to make such designation, the council may appoint an officer of the town to perform the duties of the town administrator until he shall return or his disability shall cease. If any such absence or disability lasts more than one hundred twenty (120) days, the town council may declare a vacancy in the office of town administrator.
Sec. 305. - Vacancy.#
In the event of a vacancy in office of town administrator/mayor, the office shall be temporarily filled as follows: (1)
Town council chairperson;
(2)
Town council vice chairperson;
(3)
Town council member with greatest seniority in office;
(4)
Town council member with next greatest seniority in office.
If no member of the town council is able to fill the vacancy, the town council shall appoint a qualified elector of the town as acting town administrator [mayor]. If such vacancy occurs less than six (6) months prior to the end of the term for which the town administrator/mayor was elected, the acting administrator/mayor shall serve out that term. If the vacancy occurs more than six (6) months prior to the end of the term, the acting administrator/mayor shall take office and the town clerk shall call a special election, in the manner prescribed by law, to fill said vacancy.
(Amend. of 11-2-04; Amend. of 11-3-20)
Sec. 306. - Powers and duties.#
The town administrator shall see that the laws and ordinances of the town be faithfully executed; he shall supervise the activities of all town officials, departments and agencies under his jurisdiction; and shall recommend such measures to the town council for consideration as he may deem appropriate for the welfare of the town. In addition to the foregoing, the town administrator shall: (a)
Appoint all town officials and department heads whose appointment is not otherwise provided for in this Charter, and all those whom he appoints shall serve during his pleasure. All other employees of the town excepting school personnel shall be appointed, promoted or dismissed by the town administrator, or such other authority as this Charter or the town council may provide, in accordance with such procedures and limitations as may be prescribed in this Charter or by the council.
(b)
Prepare in cooperation with the town treasurer and submit budget recommendations in the manner prescribed in article 4 hereof, including recommended rates of compensation for all town office holders and employees. He shall not recommend rates of compensation for himself, members of the council, or for school department officials or employees.
(c)
With respect to financial matters, except the annual capital or operating budget, exercise the power of veto over acts of the town council. Accordingly, every ordinance or resolution of the council which calls for the expenditure of town funds or for the incurring of debt by the town shall be submitted to the town administrator who, within ten (10) consecutive days shall either approve such ordinance or resolution by signing it, or return it to the council with a statement of his objections. The administrator may veto such ordinance or resolution, or such individual item or items therein, as he shall see fit. If the administrator shall, within the ten-day period, neither approve nor veto such ordinance or resolution submitted to him, it shall be deemed to have been approved. No such ordinance or resolution vetoed by the administrator shall take effect unless reenacted by the council with the affirmative vote of at least four (4) of its members. In the case of the veto of individual items in such ordinance or resolution, each such item must be reenacted by the affirmative vote of at least four (4) councilmembers.
(d)
Negotiate all labor contracts on behalf of the town except those involving employees of the school department. He shall retain professional assistance for the conduct of these negotiations. All such contracts negotiated by the administrator shall be presented to the town council.
(e)
Award all contracts for purchase on behalf of the town, except those relating to the school department, subject to the procedures and limitations set forth in this Charter or prescribed by the council. He shall see to it that the terms of all such contracts are carried out.
(f)
Have final responsibility for the care and preservation of all town property and equipment, except that under the jurisdiction of the school department, and shall have the authority necessary to discharge this responsibility.
(g)
Have the power and authority to declare a state of emergency in the town in the event of a disaster or imminent danger thereof, which endangers the health, safety or welfare of the people, and to take such lawful action as he deems necessary under the circumstances, or exercise such emergency powers as may have been conferred upon the town by the state, or upon the administrator by the council.
(h)
Perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this Charter or required of him by the council.