Overseers of public welfare shall keep full and accurate records of the assisted persons fully supported, the persons relieved and partially supported, and the travelers and vagrants lodged at the expense of their respective towns, together with the amounts paid by them for such support and relief, and shall make an annual return of the number of said persons supported and relieved, with the cost of such support and relief, to the department of health and human services, on or before July 1 in each year, on blanks furnished by said department. The commissioner of the department of health and human services may designate an overseer of public welfare to act on his behalf in the administration of old age assistance, aid to families with dependent children and aid to the permanently and totally disabled. Actions of such overseers shall be limited to assisting applicants to complete applications, verifying statements on applications and recertifying recipients as required by law.