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 Marion may appoint 2 associate members to the conservation commission of the town for terms of not less than 3 years.

The chairman of the conservation commission may designate an associate member to sit on the commission only 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 commission until the vacancy is filled by the board of selectmen in accordance with said section 8C of said chapter 40.