Massachusetts General Laws Part I. Administration of the Government (Ch. 1-182) Ch. 31A, § 6

Within one hundred and eighty days following the effective date of a local ordinance or by-law, the municipality shall appoint a personnel director qualified for the position by reason of previous education, training, or experience.

Said personnel director may be a professional city manager, town manager, executive secretary, or a local official with equivalent experience, or a person appointed by a group of municipalities to serve as a personnel director on a regional basis. The personnel director shall have full authority to administer such local personnel system and shall have direct access to the chief executive of the municipality. The duties of the personnel director shall be prescribed by ordinance or by-law.