SECTION 1.  Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be an appointed town treasurer-collector in the town of Hingham. The board of selectmen shall appoint a suitable qualified person to the office of town treasurer-collector. The town treasurer-collector shall have and exercise all the powers and rights, perform the duties and be subject to the liabilities and penalties conferred and imposed by law on town treasurers and town collectors of taxes.  The board of selectmen shall determine the compensation of the town treasurer-collector and may establish an employment contract with the town treasurer-collector for a period of time to provide for salary, fringe benefits and other conditions of employment including, but not limited to, severance pay, reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performance of duties of office, liability insurance, vacation and leave.

SECTION 2.  Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, upon the effective date of this act, the position of elected town treasurer-collector in the town of Hingham shall be abolished and the term of the officer holding said office shall be terminated. The elected incumbent holding said office of town treasurer-collector shall then become the first appointed town treasurer-collector; provided, however, that said person shall receive not less than the compensation and benefits to which the elected town treasurer-collector was entitled unless modified by said employment contract. Thereafter, appointments to the position of town treasurer-collector shall be made under Section 1.

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