(1) organize, and from time to time reorganize, the Fire Department under the supervision of a coordinating committee formed by the Select Board from its members; such Department shall be a volunteer department, unless an affirmative vote of the members of the Fire Department authorizes a transition to a paid or combination paid and volunteer department as set forth in a transition plan proposed by the Select Board working with a committee formed from members of the Fire Department;

(2) continue any existing contract with a volunteer fire department or to enter on behalf of the Town into contracts with other volunteer fire departments to provide additional fire protection to the inhabitants;

(3) create, consolidate, or dissolve departments as necessary or relevant for the performance of municipal services;

(4) create, consolidate, or dissolve commissions and committees as necessary or relevant and appoint the members thereof;

(5) provide on an annual basis an independent audit of all Town financial records by a certified public accountant;

(6) inquire into the conduct of any officer, commission, or department and investigate any and all municipal affairs;

(7) discharge all duties heretofore devolving on the Town Agent by general law and hire attorneys on behalf of the Town; and

(8) establish an adequate number of polling places within the Town as required for the convenience of the Town voters and without regard to election district boundaries, to the end that election expenses may be lessened and confusion among the voters as to the proper place for them to vote may be avoided; however, one such polling place shall be in North Bennington and the central polling place shall be within the boundaries of the former Village of Bennington. (Amended 2019, No. M-8, § 1, eff. June 10, 2019.)