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. The first paragraph of section 16A of chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2000 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the seventh and eighth sentences and inserting in place thereof the following 4 sentences:- The treasurer and assistant treasurer shall be persons of ability and experience and may, by vote of the committee, be compensated for their services. A treasurer of a member municipality of the district shall be eligible for appointment as treasurer or assistant treasurer. The treasurer and assistant treasurer of the district shall be subject to sections 35 and 109A of chapter 41, to the extent applicable. A business manager, assistant superintendent for business or employee with title of similar import with responsibilities similar to those of a town accountant shall be subject to section 52 of said chapter 41 and shall not hold the office of treasurer or assistant treasurer or hold any responsibilities for the receipt or disbursement of money.

SECTION 2. Said section 16A of said chapter 71, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following paragraph:-

The committee shall solicit proposals and contract with an independent certified public accountant to perform an annual financial audit and make management recommendations, and shall receive the audit report in public session. Copies of the audit shall be provided within 10 days to the director of accounts and to the board of selectmen, town manager, mayor or city manager, as the case may be, in each member municipality.