22 STATION BULLETIN 346 



The three selectmen constitute an executive board in charge of 

 all town business not specifically delegated by statute to other of- 

 ficers. In a manner similar to that for town meetings, they are re- 

 quired by the constitution to give notice of the meeting for biennial 

 elections. The valuation of taxable property and the assessing of 

 taxes against that property are two of their major duties. In the 

 absence of a budget committee, it is the responsibility of the select- 

 men to prepare and post a budget of the recommended appropriations 

 for the ensuing year. The power of abatement rests with the select- 

 men, but only if such abatement is for taxes assessed by them. They 

 are required to draw orders for all claims against the town, and keep 

 a record of all financial transactions. 



The board is empowered, or may be empowered, to appoint offi- 

 cers and to fill all vacancies except those in the office of moderator, 

 supervisor of the check list, and auditor. The selectmen have power 

 to remove the collector and treasurer for cause and are required to 

 approve their bond. It is the responsibility of the board to see that 

 the public records are preserved by the town clerk and that a fire- 

 proof safe is provided for the purpose. The selectmen combine with 

 the local health officer to form the local board of health. In some 

 towns the selectmen appoint an agent or janitor to care for public 

 property, but public property is a resonsibility of the board. Ceme- 

 teries and cemetery trust funds are also in their custody unless the 

 town elects trustees for that specific purpose. Highways are a direct 

 responsibility of the selectmen, who are authorized to lay out new 

 roads or to widen and straighten existing ones. The highway agent 

 functions under their direction when constructing or repairing town 

 roads. The selectmen further exercise general oversight over relief 

 of the poor. 



Three-fourths of the boards of selectmen meet regularly and one- 

 fourth meeting irregularly or whenever necessary, but in most in- 

 stances they meet at least 12 times per year or an average of about one 

 meeting a month. Of the boards that hold regular meetings, 41 per- 

 cent meet once each month, 25 percent meet twice a month, and 34 

 |)ercent hold weekly meetings. 



The town treasurer, invariably elected, who has custody over all 

 moneys and notes, pays out the same only on orders from the select- 

 men, and keeps a classified account of expenditures on forms pre- 

 scribed by the state tax commission. 



The town clerk, in addition to acting as clerk at all regular and 

 special town meetings, acts as clerk to the board of selectmen. He 

 is registrar of local vital statistics, issues dog licenses, and receives 

 applications for motor vehicle licenses, at which time he collects 

 the local motor vehicle tax. He is the keeper of all public records, 

 vouchers, papers, and documents belonging to the town, and in a 

 great many towns he acts as legal adviser to other officials and to the 

 community in general. Recording of mortgages and deeds is a re- 

 sponsibility of a county official rather than of the town clerk. Be- 

 cause of the numerous duties of the town clerk, the majority of towns 

 repeatedly elect the same person for this office, in a few cases for 



