The town manager shall be a person of proven administrative ability, especially qualified by education and training with prior experience as a city or town manager, or an assistant city or town manager or the equivalent public or private sector level experience. The town council may from time to time establish such additional qualifications as deemed necessary and appropriate. The town manager shall devote full time to the duties of the office and shall not hold any other elective or appointive office, nor shall the town manager engage in any other business unless such action is approved in advance in writing by the town council. The town manager need not be a resident of the town or of the Commonwealth at the time of appointment but shall establish residence within the town within six months following appointment, unless the town council shall extend such time. Except as otherwise provided by this charter, the town manager shall appoint, based upon merit and fitness alone, all department heads, officers, subordinates, and employees for whom no other method of selection is provided in this charter except employees of the school department, airport commission and persons serving under officers elected directly by the voters of Barnstable.
All appointments made by the town manager are subject to the approval of the town council.
In accordance with the procedures set forth in section 51, the town manager may be required, to consult with or engage in a joint recruitment and selection process with multiple member bodies, prior to the appointment of department heads or employees, who may provide policy advice, or support or receive direction from said multiple member bodies. The town manager shall be the chief administrative officer of the town and shall be responsible to the town council for the proper operation of town affairs for which the town manager is given responsibility under this charter. The town manager may employ special counsel to assist in the performance of these duties. Insofar as they require appropriations, contracts shall be subject to the approval of the town council. The town manager shall receive such compensation for services as the town council shall determine, but such compensation shall be within the limits of available appropriations.