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. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the department of budget and finance is hereby established in the town of West Newbury. Said department shall be under the direction of a full time finance director appointed by the board of selectmen.

SECTION 2. The department of budget and finance shall have all the powers and duties presently vested in the offices of town treasurer, town accountant, and tax collector and shall have such powers and duties, including supervision of budgets, and the direction of purchasing by the various town boards and departments as may be assigned from time to time by the board of selectmen with the approval of town meeting.

SECTION 3. The department of budget and finance shall be comprised of the divisions of treasurer, tax collector, assessors, accountant, and purchasing and such other divisions as the board of selectmen, with the approval of town meeting may, from time to time, assign.

SECTION 4. Upon the assumption of office by the finance director, the terms of the existing town treasurer, tax collector, town clerk and town accountant shall terminate. The persons who were in those elected offices at the effective date of this act shall continue as employees of the department under the direction and supervision of the finance director at least until the expiration of their terms of office. Said employees will maintain the same salary and benefits.

SECTION 5. Upon termination of the term of any office as aforesaid, the finance director shall assume the powers and duties of treasurer and said director shall appoint the person or persons to direct the divisions of town accountant, collector and clerk and purchasing subject to the approval of the board of selectmen.

SECTION 6. This act shall take effect upon its passage.