Section 8. The director shall appoint and may remove all employees in the department. Unless otherwise provided by law, all such appointments and removals shall be made in accordance with chapter thirty-one. From time to time the director may, subject to appropriation and regulations pertaining to the employment of consultants, employ such consultants as he may deem necessary.

In addition to associate directors and bureau chiefs, the director may appoint an executive assistant, a chief counsel and experts on urban affairs, public information and intergovernmental relations, to serve in the department, and such other officers, experts and assistants as may be necessary to carry out the work of the department. Any person holding appointment under this paragraph shall not be subject to the provisions of chapter thirty-one or section nine A of chapter thirty.