Municipal titles often — but not always — reveal extent of day-to-day responsibilities

Some towns have town managers. Others have town administrators. One MetroWest community even has what it calls an executive secretary.

So, what do all these titles mean? What are their differences?

Historically, a town manager has had more power than an administrator, which in turn has had more power than an executive secretary. Town managers, typically, have had more power during contract negotiations and in the hiring and firing of municipal employees, whereas in communities with an administrator or executive secretary those duties are handled by the town's governing board.

But things aren't as cut and dry today, according to Sudbury Town Manager Andy Sheehan, who serves on the Massachusetts Municipal Management Assocation's Form of Government Committee.

Municipal titles no longer have 'hard and fast' rules

"There's not a hard and fast rule anymore," said Sheehan, who has been Sudbury's town manager since February 2023. "It used to be a town manager, by its very nature, had more authority than a town administrator. (but) It's much blurrier than it used to be. It used to be a bright line, but not so much anymore."

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Wayland Town Manager Michael McCall, who was hired as the town's first town manager in February 2023, said his title typically has more power. For example, he said, he is the hiring authority for several positions, such as police and fire chief; a town administrator wouldn't normally lead that effort.

As town manager, he has more day-to-day duties than a town administrator.

"What I've seen is, traditionally, in the smaller communities, they (select boards), still want to have more of day-to-day control," said McCall. "Usually, when they have a town manager, they yield day-to-day control to the manager. The select board is usually like a CEO, and the town manager implements what they want on a daily basis."

But it isn't always about size. For example, Milford (pop. 30,000) utilizes a town administrator, whereas neighboring Upton (pop. 8,000) has a town manager.

What do our local communities have as executives?

• Ashland: Town manager

• Bellingham: Town administrator

• Franklin: Town administrator

• Holliston: Town adminstrator

• Hopedale: Town administrator

• Hopkinton: Town manager

• Hudson: Executive secretary

• Medway: Town manager

• Mendon: Town administrator

• Milford: Town administrator

• Millis: Town adminstrator

• Natick: Town administrator (Town Meeting has voted to change it to town manager)

• Northborough: Town administrator

• Sherborn: Town administrator

• Southborough: Town administrator

• Sudbury: Town manager

• Upton: Town manager

• Wayland: Town manager

• Wellesley: Executive director

• Westborough: Town manager

Sheehan said it ultimately comes down to a community's charter.

"You look at Natick, I think Jamie Errickson has the title of town administrator, but he has pretty far-reaching authority," Sheehan said. "Sometimes, the authority grows over time because the board members realize they're a little over their heads in terms of the day-to-day activities."

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Errickson said Natick's town charter gives town administrators more powers than that position gets in other communities.

"Natick calls it a town administrator, but the charter and bylaws put quite a bit of authority under the TA — more than some communities have with their town managers," he said.

Natick actually voted earlier this year to change the position from town administrator to town manager. The change will allow the manager, in this case Errickson, to have more hiring and firing power, as well as other duties.

It all comes down to the town charter

Not all communities have town managers or administrators. Hudson has an executive secretary. Wellesley has an executive director. Norwood has a general manager. But those titles, Sheehan said, matter little.

"It really comes down to what the town wants the positions to be," he said. "Sometimes the town gets hung up on the title. They think calling it 'town manager' is one step away from becoming a city. How things are now, it's all about the authority that is granted, whether it's a town manager or a town administrator. You really can't tell the difference with the just the name."

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Do town managers get more power than administrators? Check the charter