CHARLESTOWN — For Town Administrator Edward M. Barrett, the writing wasn’t on the wall but on the agenda for the first meeting of the newly elected Town Council Monday night.

Agenda Item 5 said “Town Administrator.” Item 6 said “Appointment of Acting Interim Administrator.”

Barrett had already cleaned out his office by Monday’s meeting.

Less than 25 minutes after they were sworn in, the new council members had elected their president and vice president, terminated Barrett as administrator and decided that the town clerk and tax assessor would share his duties until a new administrator takes office.

They said they’d accept applications until Dec. 3 for volunteers to serve on the search committee; they reinstated the lawyer who was town solicitor until 2006 and agreed to try restarting the Tri-Town Council for more than just Chariho Regional School issues.

At Town Hall late yesterday, Town Clerk Jodi LaCroix and Tax Assessor Kenneth Swain met with Barrett’s administrative assistant to work out their division of labor and a system for keeping all three informed.

About 90 people looked on Monday night as state Rep. Donna M. Walsh swore in the new council.

Marjorie F. Frank, as highest vote getter in the Nov. 4 election, was elected president and Gregory J. Avedisian was elected vice president, both unanimously.

After firing Barrett, the council decided that Town Solicitor Robert E. Craven will keep his position as prosecutor and probate judge, but will give up the town solicitor role to Peter D. Ruggiero, who held the job through January 2006.

Joseph S. Larisa Jr. was reappointed as town solicitor for Indian affairs. He accompanied the council into executive session to discuss Larry LeBlanc’s offer to sell the town 81 acres near the Narragansett Indian tribal land that is the subject of a U.S. Supreme Court case. Buying the land would require a referendum, and LeBlanc is asking $5.5 million. Just before adjourning Monday night, council members announced that they had decided in executive session to have the property appraised.

dnaylor@projo.com