Session Laws

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. The office of executive administrator is hereby established in the town of Dartmouth to be filled by appointment of the board of selectmen for terms not to exceed three years. During the term of appointment the executive administrator may only be removed for cause after notice stating the reasons for removal, with the right to a hearing, and by a vote of at least two-thirds of the board of selectmen.

SECTION 2. The executive administrator shall be the chief administrative officer of the town of Dartmouth within the policies and goals established by the board of selectmen and shall have the following powers and duties:-

(a) the daily administration of the offices of the board of selectmen and the affairs of the town,

(b) the preparation of the articles and warrant for annual and special town meetings,

(c) overall responsibility for the town budget with supervisory authority over the director of budget and finance,

(d) the hiring, supervision and termination of department heads determined by town general by-laws except for those department heads whose appointment is presently specially provided for by general or special law.

In addition to those powers and duties as set out above the executive administrator shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned and prescribed from time to time by the board of selectmen with the approval of town meeting.

SECTION 3. No action by the executive administrator in the hiring or termination of a department head shall be effective until ratified by a majority vote of the board of selectmen within seven days after notice to the board of selectmen at a meeting. Failure of the board of selectmen to act within seven days after notice, shall be ratification of the action taken by the executive administrator.

SECTION 4. Upon the appointment and assumption of office by the executive administrator, the term and employment of the executive secretary for the board of selectmen shall terminate.

SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon its passage.