Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 186 of the acts of 1984 is hereby repealed.

SECTION 2. The town of Westminster is hereby authorized to establish by by-law a public works commission, hereinafter referred to as the commission, consisting of three members. The initial members of the commission shall be the duly elected members of the former water and sewer commission, whose terms as members of the commission shall be coterminous with their appointed terms as members of the former water and sewer commission. Thereafter, commission members shall be appointed by the board of selectmen for staggered terms of three years each, and shall serve until the expiration of their respective terms and thereafter until a new appointment shall be made by said board of selectmen. Said board of selectmen shall fill any vacancy on the commission by appointment for the balance of the vacated three year term.

SECTION 3. The commission shall have and may exercise the powers and duties of: (a) water commissioners and sewer commissioners pursuant to sections 65 and 66 of chapter 41 of the General Laws; (b) the board of selectmen as to all matters relating to public works and highways, and said board's authority as the road commissioners of the town; (c) surveyors of highways; and (d) superintendents of streets. Said commission shall have the powers and duties heretofore held by said water and sewer commission, and as to the matters relating to the powers and duties conferred hereby, by said board of selectmen, arising under any general or special law. A majority of the commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of commission business. In addition to the foregoing, said commission shall have the power to provide engineering services to maintain and repair public buildings and property.

SECTION 4. The commission shall appoint a director of public works who shall be responsible to the commissioners, and whose appointment shall be not less than three nor more than five years, subject to removal as may be otherwise provided in the charter and by-laws of the town. The authority and duties of the director shall be as established by the commission. The director shall appoint and hire all personnel under his direction and control subject to the approval of the commission.

SECTION 5. The commission shall adopt regulations not inconsistent with this act to implement the powers and duties herein conferred.