MA S2953

Amends the Town of Natick home rule charter to replace the position of "town administrator" with "town manager" throughout, with expanded powers and duties as chief administrative officer responsible to the select board

Town manager appointed by select board for up to 3 years (or up to 5 years with 2/3 vote), with a 6-month probationary period for first-time appointments and annual performance reviews required

Grants the town moderator authority to appoint a deputy town moderator and provides new procedures for filling town meeting member vacancies through public caucuses with 48-hour notice requirements

Select board gains direct appointment authority over town comptroller, director of veterans' services, police chief, fire chief (all up to 5-year terms), while town manager appointments of treasurer-collector, assistant treasurer-collector, and town clerk require select board approval

Requires voter approval at the next municipal or state election through a ballot question before the charter amendments take effect