§ 53-a. Department heads. The town board shall appoint the head of any
department of the government of the town established or created in
accordance with the provisions of this article. Such department heads
shall be principal executive officers of their respective departments
and their offices shall be in the unclassified service, and unless their
titles are otherwise designated by the town board, they shall be known
as directors. Salaries of department heads shall be determined in the
same manner as is provided in the annual budget for the salaries of
other town officers, provided, however, that where the duties of a
department head are increased, altered or diminished by local law and to
the extent funds are available therefor, appropriate adjustment may be
made in such local law in the salary of such department head.