Vermont § 503 - Responsibilities and authority of Town Manager

§ 503. Responsibilities and authority of Town Manager

• (a) General authority. The Town Manager shall be the chief administrative officer of the Town. He or she
  shall be responsible to the Selectboard for the administration and general supervision
  of all business affairs and property placed in his or her charge pursuant to this
  charter, other State statutes, or otherwise. (b) Limits to authority in general. (1) the authority of the Town Manager shall in no way extend to: (A) the calling or administration of elections; (B) the assessment of taxes or property valuation judgments; (C) judicial or legislative functions of the Selectboard or other legal bodies, boards,
  or commissions; (D) supervision of the Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, listers, or Tax Collector in the performance
  of their statutory duties, except as otherwise provided by this charter; (E) the setting of water or sewage disposal rates and charges or the establishment of
  rules or regulations for the control or operation of the Town’s water or sewage disposal
  systems. (2) Where general State law places the appointment or dismissal of an official in the
  control of an official other than the Town Manager, general State law shall control. (3) The Town Manager may, upon request, advise or counsel officers in the performance
  of their duties. (4) The Town Manager may not serve in any elective position in the Town. He or she may,
  however, when authorized by the Selectboard, serve on appointed boards and commissions
  relevant to Town functions in an ex officio, nonvoting status. (c) Authority and duties in particular. The Town Manager shall be charged with full authority and be responsible for the following: (1) To organize, reorganize, continue, or discontinue any Town departments as the Selectboard
  may determine. (2) To direct and supervise the administration of all departments, offices, and agencies
  of the Town except as otherwise provided by this charter or other State statute. (3) To carry out the policies determined by the Selectboard and report to the Selectboard
  on their disposition. (4) To maintain an appropriate budget control system. (5) To keep the Selectboard informed on the financial condition of the Town, including
  monthly and year-end reports showing in detail all receipts and expenditures for Town
  functions. (6) To keep the Selectboard informed as to the future needs of the Town and make proper
  administrative provisions for long-term planning in all areas within the scope of
  the duties of the Town Manager. (7) To make such reports as the Selectboard may require or as the Town Manager deems appropriate,
  or as may be required by law or ordinance regarding any and all functions under his
  or her supervision. (8) To keep full and complete records of the actions of the Town Manager’s office. (9) To be present at all regular Selectboard meetings unless excused by the Selectboard
  and to have the right to attend and take part in all special meetings of the Selectboard
  and subcommittees thereof, except when the conditions of employment, compensation,
  discipline, or removal of the Town Manager is being discussed. (10) To appoint upon merit and fitness alone and, when the Town Manager deems necessary
  for the good of the Town, discipline, suspend, or remove any subordinate official,
  employee, or agent. All such appointments may be without definite terms unless for
  provisional, temporary, or emergency service, in which case terms shall not exceed
  the maximum periods prescribed by the personnel rules and regulations. The Town Manager
  may authorize the head of a department or of an office responsible to the Town Manager
  to appoint and remove subordinates in such office or department. (11) To ensure the proper and equitable administration of the Town’s personnel system. (12) To fix the compensation of Town employees. (13) To remain ultimately responsible to the Selectboard for all administrative actions
  under his or her jurisdiction, although he or she may hold subordinate employees’
  offices or agents responsible for the faithful discharge of their duties. (14) To draft an annual budget document and capital expenditure plan. (15) To examine or cause to be examined, with or without notice, the affairs of any department
  under his or her control or the conduct of any officer or employee thereof. For this
  purpose, the Town Manager shall have access to all books, papers, files, reports,
  or records of all departments that may be necessary for the proper performance of
  his or her duties, unless prohibited by law. (16) To oversee the preservation of the public peace and the health and safety of persons
  and property, and to uphold the enforcement of this charter, ordinances, and State
  and federal laws as applicable. (17) To be the general purchasing agent for the Town, with an independent purchasing authority
  set from time to time by the Selectboard. (18) To have the charge and supervision of all town buildings, properties, and facilities;
  all repairs thereon; and all construction by the Town unless otherwise voted. (19) To supervise and expend all special appropriations of the Town unless otherwise voted
  by the Town or provided in this charter. (20) To cause duties of the municipality not committed to the care of any particular officer
  to be duly performed and executed. (21) To perform any other duties consistent with his or her office as may be required by
  a vote of the Selectboard or by law, ordinance, or mandate not inconsistent with this
  charter. (22) To be the chief administrative officer of the Town department or departments responsible
  for the Town’s water and sewage disposal systems, with the same authority and limitations
  provided in this section. (d) Accountability, noninterference, and appointive power. The Town Manager shall be responsible to the Selectboard for the proper and efficient
  administration of the departments under his or her charge as outlined above in this
  charter. Neither the Selectboard, any individual member of the Selectboard, nor any
  of its committees or committee members shall dictate the appointment, discipline,
  or discharge of any Town employee by the Town Manager or in any manner interfere with
  his or her exercise of judgment in the appointment, discipline, or discharge of employees. (e) Noninterference with administrative discretion and supervision. Except for the purposes of formal inquiries or investigations made under this charter,
  the Selectboard and its members shall deal with the administrative and Town officers
  and those employees who are subject to the Town Manager’s direction and supervision
  solely through the Town Manager. Neither the Selectboard nor any of its members shall
  give orders to or request any action publicly or privately of any Town employee.
  Communications for the purposes of information and background shall be considered
  proper when approved by the Town Manager. (Added 2011, No. M-17 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 8, 2012.)