SECTION 1. Notwithstanding sections 1 and 1B of chapter 41 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the collector of taxes of the town of Blandford shall be appointed by the board of selectmen of the town of Blandford for a term of 3 years and may be removed for cause by the board of selectmen after a hearing. Prior to any appointment pursuant to this section, the candidate for appointment shall be interviewed at an open session meeting of the board of selectmen and the following officers of the town: finance committee chair; planning board chair; town accountant; and town treasurer. The collector of taxes appointed pursuant to this section shall have all the powers, perform the duties and be subject to the liabilities and penalties conferred and imposed by law on collectors of taxes.

SECTION 2. The position of elected collector of taxes in the town of Blandford shall be abolished upon the effective date of this act and the term of the elected incumbent terminated; provided, however, that notwithstanding section 1, the elected incumbent shall then become the first appointed collector of taxes and shall serve in that capacity for a period of time equivalent to the remainder of the elected term or until the incumbent sooner vacates the office. After the expiration of the term of the incumbent collector of taxes, or a sooner vacating of the office, the board of selectmen shall appoint a collector of taxes pursuant to section 1.

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