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 the action taken by the May 15, 2002 session of the town of Westport annual town meeting, the board of selectmen of the town of Westport may as of the effective date of this act accept section 1 of chapter 116 of the acts of 2002 on behalf of the town without the approval of the legislative authority. This section provides for local government workforce reductions through an early retirement incentive program for certain employees. This acceptance shall be by majority vote of the board of selectmen on or before November 1, 2002. Except as otherwise provided in this section, all provisions of said section 1 of chapter 116 of the acts of 2002 shall be effective in the town upon such acceptance.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.