Town Manager

Welcome to the Town of North Berwick.

We hope you find our website helpful as you browse the departments and services and discover what North Berwick has to offer.
 

Town Meeting, Select Board, Town Manager Government

The Town of North Berwick has a Town Meeting - Select Board - Town Manager form of government, which was established in North Berwick in 1995. The Town Manager is appointed by and reports to the Select Board and is the Town’s Chief Administrative Official, responsible for the day-to-day activities of the town. 
 

Responsibility

As described in the Town Manager Plan Statute, MRSA Title 30-A section 2631, certain responsibilities are vested in the Town Manager:

• Executive and administrative officer -  Is the chief executive and administrative official of the town;  
• Administer offices -  Is responsible to the Select Board for the administration of all departments and offices over which the Select Board have control;  
• Execute laws and ordinances -  Shall execute all laws and ordinances of the town;  
• Department head -  Shall serve in any office as the head of any department under the control of the Select Board when directed by the selectmen;  
• Appoint department heads -  Shall appoint, subject to confirmation by the Select Board, supervise and control the heads of departments under the control of the Select Board when the department is not headed by the town manager;  
• Appoint town officials -  Unless otherwise provided by town ordinance, shall appoint, supervise and control all town officials whom the municipal officers are required by law to appoint, except members of boards, commissions, committees and single assessors; and appoint, supervise and control all other officials, subordinates and assistants, except that the town manager may delegate this authority to a department head and report all appointments to the Select Board;  
• Purchasing agent -  Shall act as purchasing agent for all departments, except the school department, provided that the town or the Select Board may require that all purchases greater than a designated amount must be submitted to sealed bid;  
• Attend meetings of selectmen -  Shall attend all meetings of the Select Board, and the town manager may attend meetings when the manager's removal is being considered;  
• Make recommendations -  Shall make recommendations to the Select Board for the more efficient operation of the town;  
• Attend town meetings -  Shall attend all town meetings and hearings;  
• Inform of financial condition -  Shall keep the Select Board and the residents of the town informed as to the town's financial condition;  
• Collect data -  Shall collect data necessary to prepare the budget;  
• Assist residents -  Shall assist, insofar as possible, residents and taxpayers in discovering their lawful remedies in cases involving complaints of unfair vendor, administrative and governmental practices; and  
• Remove appointments -  Has exclusive authority to remove for cause, after notice and hearing, all persons whom the manager is authorized to appoint and report all removals to the Select Board.  
• The Town Manager also serves as Tax Collector, Treasurer, Road Commissioner, and Deputy General Assistance Agent.