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. Notwithstanding sections 1 and 2 of chapter 80 of the General Laws, sections 26 and 27 of chapter 83 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the board of selectmen of the town of Chatham may adopt orders providing for improvements to be made to Manamock road, Palmer drive, Oak Hill road and Oval road, ways in the town, and provide for the assessment of betterments to the owners of the property abutting said ways to defray the cost of the improvements. The order shall be adopted and recorded at the Barnstable county registry of deeds within 90 days from the effective date of this act.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding sections 1 and 2 of chapter 80 of the General Laws, sections 26 and 27 of chapter 83 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the town of Chatham may assess and collect such betterment assessments within six months of the effective date of this act.

SECTION 3. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 3 of chapter 79 of the General Laws, section 24 of chapter 82 of the General Laws or any other ge special law to the contrary, the board of selectmen of the town of Chatham may adopt and record an order of taking by eminent domain of all interests in real estate authorized to be taken by the Chatham town meeting pursuant to Article 27 of the 1997 annual town meeting warrant and Article 18 of the 1998 annual town meeting warrant. Such order of taking shall be adopted and recorded within six months from the effective date of this act. +s

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage. @s