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 section one of chapter forty-one of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the by-laws of the town of Georgetown are hereby amended by adding the following:-

Article 2.1 Department of Municipal Finance By-Law

Department of Municipal Finance By-Law

Section 1. Creation of a Department of Municipal Finance:

The department of municipal finance is hereby established in the town of Georgetown. In accordance with section two, a finance director shall be appointed to implement and coordinate said department. Said department and the finance director shall have all of the duties provided in section three of this by-law and such duties as may be prescribed by the board of selectmen with the approval of town meeting.

Section 2. Hiring and Selection Process:

The finance director shall be hired based upon qualifications to be developed by the personnel board using guidelines from the commonwealth and models from other communities.

There shall be a selection committee to consist of five members to be appointed, one by each of the following boards and committees, as their representative: board of selectmen, school committee, board of assessors, personnel board and the finance and advisory committee. The selection committee shall supervise a search and recruitment process advertising in regional newspapers and professional publications. The selection committee shall interview the most qualified applicants, recommending not more than three suitable candidates to the board of selectmen in a prioritized order. The board of selectmen shall have the ultimate authority over the finance director for the purpose of hiring or dismissing for cause; provided, however, that the board of selectmen shall make their choice from the selection committee's list and shall make written report of justification to the selection committee if they make their choice different from the prioritized order. The foregoing selection procedure shall be implemented whenever the position of finance director is required to be filled.

The board of selectmen shall enter into a formal written contract with the finance director that details responsibilities, goals and objectives for performance, evaluation criteria, salary, and fringe benefits for not longer than a three year term. The expiration date of any term of appointment for the position of finance director shall be on December thirty-first of the given year. The board of selectmen shall have the option of providing for a probation period within the term of appointment if they should deem it appropriate.

Section 3. Duties and Responsibilities:

The finance director, as treasurer and budget officer shall be responsible for coordinating the fiscal management procedures of the office of the treasurer, the office of the tax collector and the position of town accountant, and he shall be the administrator of budgeting, including financial reporting, accountability and control, as well as an advisor on financial and programmatic implications of current and future policies to all town departments and the board of selectmen. The finance director shall be responsible for coordinating all financial tasks upon the dates specified in the Massachusetts Department of Revenue Municipal Calendar, as amended. The finance director shall oversee and develop guidelines to be followed by all town departments for purchasing supplies and equipment, including acting as the chief procurement officer for said town; data processing including the utilization of uniform hardware and software for all town departments; personnel administration and risk management; all subject to the applicable laws of the commonwealth.

Section 4. Implementation:

Upon the assumption of office by the finance director, the terms of the existing town treasurer and tax collector and the town accountant shall terminate. The persons who were in such elected or appointed offices as of the effective date of the special act shall continue as employees of the department of municipal finance under the direction and supervision of the finance director at least until the expiration of their terms of office. Said employees shall maintain the same salary and benefits. Upon termination of an office as aforesaid, the finance director shall assume the powers and duties of the treasurer and said finance director shall appoint the persons to direct the divisions of town accountant, tax collector, purchasing, personnel and data processing, subject to the approval of the board of selectmen.

Section 5. Departmental Budgets:

Pursuant to the provisions of section fifty-nine of chapter forty-one of the General Laws, the board of selectmen and all boards, committees, heads of departments or other officers of the town authorized to expend money shall furnish to the town accountant and the finance director, on a date in January of each year as specified by the finance director and the board of selectmen, detailed estimates of the amounts necessary for the property maintenance of the departments under their jurisdiction for the ensuing fiscal year, with explanatory statements as to any changes from the amounts appropriated for the same purposes in the preceding fiscal year, an estimate of the amounts necessary for outlays or permanent improvements and estimates of any income likely to be received by the town during the ensuing fiscal year in connection with the town's business or property entrusted to their care. Such budget requests and income estimates shall be consolidated by the finance director and, together with the recommendations shall be submitted to the finance and advisory committee not later than the third Monday in March of each year.

Section 6. Enabling Clause:

Article 2-1 of the by-laws of the town of Georgetown shall become effective as of the effective date of the act authorizing said by-law.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.