SECTION 1.  Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the Office of Treasurer-Collector for the Town of Freetown is hereby established.  The Treasurer-Collector shall have all the powers, perform the duties and be subject to the liabilities and penalties now or hereafter conferred and imposed by law on town Treasurers and town Collectors of Taxes.  Said Treasurer-Collector shall be appointed, and may be removed, by the Board of Selectmen of said town.  The Board of Selectmen may establish an employment contract with the Treasurer-Collector for salary, fringe benefits and other conditions of employment, including but not limited to, severance pay, reimbursement for expense incurred in the performance of the duties of office, liability insurance, conditions of discipline, termination dismissal, reappointment, performance standards and leave.

SECTION 2.  Notwithstanding the provisions of section one, upon the effective date of this act, the positions of elected town Treasurer and elected Tax Collector shall be abolished and the terms of the officers holding said offices shall be terminated.  The elected incumbent holding the office of town Treasurer, if any, shall thereupon become the first appointed Treasurer-Collector, and shall serve in such capacity for a period of time equivalent to the remainder of the incumbent’s elected term or sooner resignation or retirement.  Thereafter, appointments to the position of Treasurer-Collector shall be made in accordance with the provisions of section 1 of this act.

SECTION 3.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.