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. There is hereby established in the town of Merrimac, a department of finance, budget and personnel. Said department shall have all the powers and duties presently exercised by the offices of town treasurer, town accountant, and tax collector including supervision of budgets and the director of purchasing by the various town boards and departments as may be assigned from time to time by the board of selectmen. Said department shall be comprised of the divisions of treasurer, tax collector, assessors, accountant and such other divisions as the board of selectmen may from time to time assign. Said department shall be under the direction of a full time finance director appointed by said board of selectmen.

SECTION 2. Upon appointment of a finance director, the office of town treasurer shall be abolished and its functions transferred to the department of finance, budget and personnel. The incumbent in said office shall be transferred to said department for the remainder of his current term and may be retained as an employee thereafter. The finance director shall exercise the powers and duties of treasurer and collector and shall, subject to the approval of the board of selectmen, appoint a person or persons to direct the divisions of accounting and assessing.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.