§ 245-3. Officers and duties.

A. 

Elections. At the first meeting following the Annual Town Elections, the members of the Board shall elect by majority vote all officers, to include a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Clerk. Associate members shall not participate in this act. All officers shall serve for one year or until a successor is elected.

B. 

Chairperson.

(1) 

The Chairperson shall vote and be recorded on all matters coming before the Board. Subject to these rules, he/she shall issue the call for and preside at all meetings and hearings; decide all points of order, unless overruled by a majority of the Board in session at the time; prepare and submit all reports required by law; and appoint such committees as may be found necessary or desirable.

(2) 

In addition to powers granted by the General Laws or otherwise and subject to these rules and further instructions of the Board, the Chairperson shall transact the official business of the Board; supervise the work of the Clerk; request necessary help; direct the work of all subordinates; and exercise general supervisory power. At each meeting, he/she shall report on all official transactions that have not otherwise come to the attention of the Board.

C. 

Vice Chairperson. The Vice Chairperson shall vote and be recorded on all matters coming before the Board. He/she shall have such powers and be charged with such duties as the Chairperson shall designate. The Vice Chairperson shall act as Chairperson in case the Chairperson is absent, disabled or otherwise unable to perform his/her duties.

D. 

Clerk.

(1) 

The Clerk shall vote and be recorded on all matters coming before the Board. Subject to the direction of the Board and its Chairperson, the Clerk shall supervise the clerical work of the Board, including: all correspondence of the Board; receive and scrutinize all applications for compliance with the rules of the Board; keep dockets and minutes of the Board's proceedings; compile all required records, maintain necessary files and indexes; mail all public hearing notices, notices of decisions and copies of decisions as required by law; file all records of proceedings and notices of decision; and call the roll at Board meetings. The Board may hire a clerical secretary to carry out some of the aforementioned duties, subject to approval by the Board and its Chairperson.

(2) 

If the Clerk is absent, disabled or otherwise unable to perform his/her duties, the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson shall designate an Acting Clerk. If both the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson are absent, the Clerk shall act as Chairperson and appoint an Acting Clerk.

E. 

Associate members. The Chairperson shall designate an associate member to sit on the Board in case of the absence, inability to act or conflict of interest on the part of any Board member. In the event of a vacancy on the Board, the Chairperson may designate an associate member to act as a member of the Board until someone is appointed to fill the unexpired portion of the vacated term.