SECTION 1.  Chapter 592 of the acts of 1950 is hereby amended by striking out section 7 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 7. The selectmen elected as provided herein shall appoint, as soon as practicable, for a term of 3 years, a town manager who shall be a person especially fitted by education, training and previous full-time paid experience as a town or city manager or assistant manager, to perform the duties of the office.  The town manager shall be appointed without regard to his or her political beliefs. He or she need not be a resident of the town or this commonwealth when appointed, but shall not, during the 12 months prior to the appointment, have held any elective office in the town of Wilmington.  He or she may be appointed for successive terms of office.  Before entering upon the duties of the office, the town manager shall be sworn to the faithful and impartial performance thereof by the town clerk, or a justice of the peace. The town manager shall execute a bond in favor of the town for the faithful performance of duties in such sum and with such surety or sureties as may be fixed or approved by the selectmen.