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

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 8C of chapter 40 of the General Laws, the board of selectmen of the town of North Andover may appoint not more than 2 alternate members of the conservation commission for a term of 1 year. In the absence of a quorum for reasons of the absence, inability to act or a conflict of interest of a member, the chairperson of the commission may designate an alternate member to sit on the commission.