CURRENT

PROPOSED

Board of Selectmen decide and vote on town government policies and are the chief policy making officers of the town

Same

Open Town Meeting; voters approve the town’s budget each year

Same

Selectmen appoint the Town Administrator; Town Administrator reports directly to Selectmen

Selectmen appoint the Town Manager; Town Manager reports directly to Selectmen

All elected positions are accountable directly to voters; all appointed positions are accountable directly to appointing authority (e.g., Selectmen, Library Trustees, School Committee, etc.)

Same

Elected officials cannot be removed during term, unless recalled by special recall election; appointed officials can be removed for good cause

Same

Finance Committee responsible to prepare and present budget each year, with Selectmen’s review and approval

Town Manager responsible to prepare and present budget each year, with Selectmen’s and Finance Committee's review and approval

Town Clerk is elected

Same 

Treasurer/Tax Collector is appointed by Selectmen

Treasurer/Tax Collector is appointed by Town Manager with Selectmen approval

Town Accountant is appointed by Selectmen

Town Accountant  is appointed by Town Manager with Selectmen approval

Board of Assessors is elected; Board of Assessors hire the Principal Assessor. Principal Assessor reports to Board of Assessors

Board of Assessors is elected. The Principal Assessor is appointed by Town Manager and reports to Town Manager

Highway Surveyor is elected 

Highway Surveyor is elected and accountable to the Town Manager

Sewer Commissioners and Water commissioners are elected; they appoint their respective Superintendent and hire employees

Same

School Committee is elected, and they appoint the Superintendent of Schools (per state law)

Same

Board of Library Trustees are elected; they appoint Library Director

Same

Park Commissioners are elected

Same 

Board of Health is elected

Same

Selectmen appoint Police Chief and Fire Chief; each Chief hires employees for department

Any voter can hold any elected town office.

Same