Town Manager of Saugus, Massachusetts facts for kids

The Town Manager of Saugus, Massachusetts, is the main leader who helps run the town of Saugus, Massachusetts. Saugus uses a special way of governing called a Town Manager system. This means elected officials make big decisions, but a professional manager handles the daily work. The Town Manager's office is inside the Saugus Town Hall. Scott Crabtree has been the town manager since March 30, 2015. He also held the job from 2012 to 2014.

Saugus has seen its town managers change more often than other towns. Some people who don't like the Town Manager system use this as an example. They say it shows why their own communities should not adopt this type of government.

How Saugus Got a Town Manager

Saugus decided to get a Town Manager after a special vote on June 2, 1947. Most people voted for this new way of running the town. Saugus was the first town in Massachusetts to choose this system.

The "Plan E" Government System

This new system was called "Plan E." Frederick Willis, who was a state representative for Saugus, helped lead the effort to adopt Plan E. He was also the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. C. F. Nelson Pratt was against the idea.

The town had tried to adopt this system twice before. The first time, town leaders approved it, but voters said no. The second time, leaders approved it again, but a rule about how meetings work stopped the final vote.

Changes with Plan E

Besides creating the Town Manager job, Plan E also made other changes. The Board of Selectmen, who are elected town leaders, grew from three members to five. The way people voted for them also changed to a Single transferable vote system. However, this special voting system was stopped after the 1950 election.

Also, some jobs like tax collector and tree warden changed. Before Plan E, people voted for these jobs. After Plan E, the Town Manager started appointing them.

Saugus's First Town Manager

On February 15, 1948, the Board of Selectmen chose James Shurtleff to be Saugus's first town manager. He was recommended by a group called the International City Managers Association. He started his job on April 1 and earned $8,000 a year.

How a Town Manager Is Chosen

The Board of Selectmen chooses the Town Manager. At least four out of five Selectmen must agree on the choice. They decide how long the manager will serve.

What the Town Manager Needs

The town's rules say the manager must be:

• "Especially fitted by education, training and experience to perform the duties of the office" (meaning they need the right education, training, and experience for the job).
• "Be appointed without regard to his political beliefs" (meaning their political views shouldn't matter when they are chosen).
• "Need not be a resident of the town or the Commonwealth" (meaning they don't have to live in Saugus or even in Massachusetts).

The Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, the Town Clerk, or a justice of the peace officially swears in the Town Manager.

When the Job Is Empty

If the Town Manager job becomes empty, the Selectmen must quickly choose a temporary manager. If the manager is away or sick for a short time, they can pick another town official to do their job. If the manager doesn't pick someone, the Selectmen will choose an official to fill in.

How a Town Manager Can Be Removed

The Selectmen can remove the Town Manager if at least four out of five of them vote to do so.

The Removal Process

Before they can remove the manager, the Selectmen must write down their reasons. They file this paper with the Town Clerk at least 30 days before they plan to remove the manager. The manager can write a response and ask for a public meeting to discuss it.

After thinking about everything, the Selectmen can make a final decision to remove the manager. They need a majority vote from all the Selectmen to do this. If they decide to remove the manager, they can also suspend them from duty right away. However, they must still pay the manager any unpaid salary and their salary for the next three months.

What the Town Manager Does

The Town Manager is in charge of most of the town's departments and offices. They make sure everything runs smoothly.

Supervising Town Departments

The Town Manager supervises and directs almost all town departments, committees, and offices. However, they do not supervise the Board of Selectmen, the School Committee, the Board of Appeals, the Board of Library Trustees, election officers, or voter registrars.

The manager can also:

• Change, combine, or get rid of departments under their control.
• Create new departments if needed.
• Move duties, powers, and money from one department to another.
• Decide how much all town officers and employees under their control get paid.
• Fire any town officer or employee, except for those who work for the school department.

Meetings and Property

The Town Manager attends all regular meetings of the Board of Selectmen. They do not attend meetings where their own removal is being discussed.

They are also in charge of:

• Renting and using all town property.
• Keeping all town buildings in good shape, repairing them, and building new ones.

Purchasing and Contracts

The Town Manager is responsible for buying all supplies, materials, and equipment for all town departments. This does not include school books. They also award contracts for all town departments.

Laws and Legal Matters

The Town Manager makes sure all town laws and rules are followed. They are also in charge of:

• Handling all legal cases where the town is involved.
• Hiring special lawyers to help the town's main lawyer if needed.

Other Duties

The Town Manager also performs any other duties that the Board of Selectmen ask them to do, as long as they fit the job. They can also look into how any department, officer, or employee under their control is doing their job, without giving notice.

Appointing Officials

The Town Manager appoints members to several important town boards, including:

• Planning Board
• Board of Public Welfare
• Board of Health
• Board of Youth and Recreation Commissioners
• Board of Cemetery Commissioners
• Board of Assessors

They also appoint key town officials like:

• Fire Chief
• Town Clerk
• Town Treasurer
• Town Collector
• Town Accountant
• Superintendent of Public Works
• Tree Warden
• Town Counsel

All these appointments must be approved by a majority of the full Board of Selectmen in a public meeting. The manager can also take on the duties of any office they are allowed to appoint someone to.

Managing Town Money

The Town Manager is the main financial officer for the town. They must approve payments of town money. Each year, the Town Manager gives the Board of Selectmen a budget proposal. They also write reports showing:

• How much the town will likely spend.
• How much the town has spent.
• All the money the town has collected.

They also estimate how much money needs to be raised through taxes to cover town expenses and how much the tax rate will be.

List of Town Managers