Section 4-1. Intent
It is the intent of this charter that the town manager be the chief administrative officer in the executive branch of the Stoughton Town government and that he carry our the policies and plans set forth by the Selectmen. The town manager shall serve at the will of the selectmen except that a vote of a majority, plus one, of the full membership of the selectmen shall be required to discharge him. In the event of his discharge, he may request a public hearing at which hearing the selectmen must set forth their reasons for discharging him and he may respond to these reasons if he desires.

Section 4-2. Powers and Duties of the Town Manager
The powers and duties of the town manager shall include the following:

1. In accordance with the provisions of this charter and except as otherwise expressly prohibited by the General Laws, to organize and reorganize, consolidate or abolish departments, commissions, boards or offices under his direction and supervision, in whole or in part; to establish such new departments, commissions, boards, or offices as he deems necessary, and to transfer the duties, powers and appropriation of one department, commission, board or office to another. All appointments to offices, boards, and commissions not specifically made under the power and the duty of the selectmen by this charter and by the school committee under general laws shall be made by the town manager.
   
   
2. To prepare the selectmen's three year fiscal period and program plan and submit it to them at least ninety days before the town meeting. In preparing the plan, he shall incorporate as directed by the selectmen policies and assumptions adopted by them.
   
   
3. To appoint upon merit and fitness alone and to remove at his will all subordinate officers, employees, and members of boards and commissions under his control and to fix their compensation; except as otherwise provided by civil service rules and procedures, or the general laws.
   
   
4. To attend such regular or special meetings of the selectmen as they may require.
   
   
5. To keep full and complete records of the doings of his office, to render reports as often as may be required by the selectmen, and annually or oftener if required by the selectmen, to make a synopsis of all reports for publication.
   
   
6. To prepare an estimate in writing of the probable amount required for the expenditures of the town for the next ensuing fiscal year, stating in detail the amounts of maturing bonds or notes, the amount required for interest or other outstanding indebtedness of the town, the amount necessary to be provided by each fund and for each department, and the accomplishments expected. He shall keep the selectmen fully advised as to the needs of the town within the scope of his duties, and furnish them on or before the thirty-first day of December each year a careful, detail budget.
   
   
7. To keep in repair the town library and all other town buildings, except school buildings, which he may repair only upon request in writing of the school committee.
   
   
8. To purchase all supplies for every department of the town, except books for the schools or the public library. He may delegate the responsibility to purchase supplies to an authorized representative and may revoke such delegation at his will.
   
   
9. To perform such other duties, consistent with his office, as may be required of him by the by-laws of the town or by vote of the selectmen.
   
   
10. To have control over all town agencies, not specifically allocated by this charter or applicable state statutes to any elected board or officer.
    
    
11. To examine or cause to be examined, with or without notice, the affairs of any division or department under his control, or the conduct of any officer or employee thereof; and for that purpose, he shall have access to all town books and papers for the information necessary for the proper performance of his duties.
    
    
12. To administer the public health program of the town as established by its by-laws and the general laws. The Town Manager shall appoint a Board of Health of five members who shall be appointed to three year terms of office as their term of office expires. The Board shall advise him on matters of public health and upon questions bearing upon the public health of the inhabitants of the town.

Section 4-3. Absence of Town Manager
The town manager shall appoint a person from his department heads to act for him when he is absent from his office for twenty-one days or less. The selectmen shall appoint a person to act for the town manager in the event that he is absent for more than twenty-one days. No person appointed by the town manager to act for him in his absence shall serve more than twenty-one days without approval by the selectmen.