A. The position of town administrator is created. The town administrator shall be appointed by a majority vote of the board of trustees for an indefinite term. He 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 his knowledge of accepted practice in respect to the duties of his office. At the time of his appointment he need not be a resident of the town or the state, but during his tenure of office he shall reside within the town. No trustee shall receive appointment as administrator during the term for which he shall have been elected nor within one year after the expiration of his term. The board may remove the town administrator at any time by a majority vote of at least three (3) trustees. If requested, the board shall grant him a public hearing within thirty (30) days following notice of removal. During the interim, the board may suspend the administrator from duty, but shall continue his salary and, if the removal becomes final, shall pay his salary for one calendar month following the final removal date.
B. The town administrator shall receive such compensation as the board shall fix from time to time by ordinance or resolution.
C. Any vacancy in the office of town administrator shall be filled within sixty (60) days after the effective date of such vacancy.
D. The town administrator is chief administrative officer of the town. He may head one or more departments and shall be responsible to the board for the proper administration of all affairs of the town. To that end, he shall have the power and duty to:
1. Recommend appointments, suspension and removal of all officers and employees of the town except as otherwise provided by law;
2. Prepare the budget annually and submit it to the board together with a message describing the important features, and be responsible for its administration after adoption;
3. Prepare and submit to the board after the end of the fiscal year a complete report on the finances and administrative activities of the town for the preceding year;
4. Keep the board advised of the financial condition and future needs of the town, and make such recommendations as he may deem desirable;
5. Recommend to the board a standard schedule of pay for each appointive office and position in the town service, including minimum, intermediate, and maximum rates;
6. Recommend to the board from time-to-time adoption of such measures as he may deem necessary or expedient for the health, safety or welfare of the community or for the improvement of administrative services;
7. Attend all meetings of the board unless excused therefrom and take part in the discussion of all matters coming before the board. He shall be entitled to notice of all regular and special meetings of the board;
8. Supervise the purchase of all materials, supplies, and equipment for which funds are provided in the budget. The administrator may issue such rules governing purchasing procedures within the administrative organization as the board shall approve;
9. See that all laws and ordinances are duly enforced;
10. Investigate the affairs of the town or any department or division thereof. Investigate all complaints in relation to matters concerning the administration of the government of the town, and in regard to service maintained by the public utilities in the town, and see that all franchises, permits and privileges granted by the town are faithfully observed; and
11. Perform such other duties as may be required by the board not inconsistent with town. (1998 Code; amd. Ord. 2022-06, 10-13-2022)