The board of commissioners shall appoint an officer whose title shall be town manager and who shall be the chief executive officer of the town and the head of the administrative branch of the town government. The town manager shall be chosen by the board solely on the basis of his executive and administrative qualifications with special reference to his actual experience in, or knowledge of, accepted practice in respect to the duties of his office as hereinafter prescribed. At the time of his appointment he need not be a resident of the town, but shall reside therein during his tenure of office. No person elected mayor or member of the board of commissioners shall be eligible for appointment as town manager until one year shall have elapsed following the expiration of the term for which he was elected. The town manager shall serve at the pleasure of the board of commissioners and shall receive such salary as the board shall fix.
In case of the absence or disability of the manager, the board may designate a qualified administrative officer of the town to perform the duties of the manager during such absence or disability.
(Session Laws of 1965, Chapter 79 § 5.1)