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

Notwithstanding section 8C of chapter 40 of the General Laws, the board of selectmen of the town of Swansea may appoint 3 alternate members to the conservation commission of the town for terms not to exceed 3 years.

The chairman of the conservation commission may designate any of the alternate members to sit on the commission in the case of absence, inability to act or conflict of interest on the part of a member of the commission or, in the event of a vacancy on the conservation commission, until the vacancy is filled in accordance with said section 8C of said chapter 40.