Town Manager

According to Freeport's Charter, the Town Manager is appointed by the Town Council, and serves as the administrative head of all Town departments. For the specific duties of the Town Manager, please see link to the left. In Freeport, the Manager's office is also staffed by one full time Assistant, who serves as the Town's primary Human Resource administrator.

DUTIES OF THE TOWN MANAGER

The specific powers and duties of the Town Manager are laid out in the Freeport Town Charter, the Freeport Administrative Code, and Maine State Law. 

According to Article III of the Freeport Town Charter, the Town Manager is appointed by the Town Council, and has the following powers and duties:

“The town manager shall be the chief administrative officer of the town. The manager shall be responsible to the council for the administration of all town affairs placed in the manager’s charge by or under this charter. The manager shall have the following powers and duties:

The manager shall appoint and remove the town clerk, treasurer, tax collector, town assessor and department heads subject to the confirmation of the town council. The manager shall appoint and remove when necessary all other administrative officials and town employees, except as the manager may authorize the head of a department or office to appoint or remove subordinates in such department or office and except as otherwise provided by law, by this charter, or by personnel rules adopted pursuant to this Charter;

The manager shall direct and supervise the administration of all departments offices and agencies of the town, except as otherwise provided by this Charter or by law;

The manager shall attend council meetings, and shall have the right to take part in discussions but may not vote;

The manager shall see that all laws, provisions of this Charter and acts of the council, subject to enforcement by the manager or by officials subject to the manager’s direction and supervision, are faithfully executed;

The manager shall prepare and submit the annual budget and capital program to the council;

The manager shall submit to the council and make available to the public a complete report on the finances and administrative activities of the town as of the end of each fiscal year;

The manager shall prepare and submit to the council such reports and shall perform such duties as the council may require and shall make such recommendations to the council concerning the affairs of the town as the manager deems advisable;

The manager shall assist, insofar as possible, residents and taxpayers in discovering their lawful remedies in cases involving complaints of unfair vendor, administrative and governmental practices.”

According to Section 402 of the Freeport Administrative Code, the Town Manager has the following duties and powers:

402.1 Bonds - Secure bonds for the positions of Town Manager and Tax Collector in the penal sum of $50,000.00 and for the positions of Treasurer, Overseer of the Poor and Road Commissioner in the penal sum of $50,000.00.

402.2 Ex-Officio Member - Be an ex-officio member of all boards and commissions. May attend all meetings and participate but may not vote. Amended July 5, 2016 12

402.3 Contracts Examine all proposed contracts to which the Town may be party and may sign on behalf of the Town any contract authorized by the Council.

402.4 Records 1. Prepare and have custody of all municipal records required by Law to be kept by the Town which are not kept by any other specific officer. 2. Make available clerical assistance for the preparation of records required to be kept by a specific officer.

402.5 Purchasing Agent - Be the purchasing agent. 1. When possible, establish sets of standards and specifications to control all purchases made by the Town. 2. When required by Law or Ordinance, or when in the judgment of the Town Manager the Town stands to benefit there from, the Town Manager shall prepare specifications for bids for purchases made by the Town, and shall publish an invitation to bid on such terms and conditions as he/she may deem appropriate.

402.6 Road Commissioner - Have general responsibility for the care of public ways with the Director of Public Works having direct responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the Highway Department.

402.7 Personnel Director - Be the general personnel director, except where specific provision to the contrary is made by law or by the Council, and prepare personnel rules as outlined in Article IV.

402.8 Police Commissioner - Have general responsibility for the supervision of Town operated law enforcement agencies with the Chief of Police having direct responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the Police Department.

402.9 Fire Commissioner - Have general responsibility for the supervision of Town operated fire fighting and rescue agencies with the Fire Chief having direct responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the Fire Department. 

The Town Manager has various other responsibilities as established by the general laws of the State of Maine.