SECTION 1. Notwithstanding section 39M of chapter 30 of the General Laws, any other applicable public bidding statute or any other general or special law to the contrary, the town of Hardwick may enter into contracts, upon such terms and conditions deemed necessary by the board of selectmen, with the Eagle Hill Foundation of Massachusetts, Inc., hereinafter referred to as “Eagle Hill”.

The contracts shall include terms whereby Eagle Hill will design, engineer and construct, at its cost and expense subject to the issuance of credits provided herein, an extension of the existing Gilbertville sanitary sewer system along route 32A to property owned by Eagle Hill, which is located off of Old Petersham road in the town of Hardwick. The sewer extension shall allow for the connection of the Eagle Hill property to the Gilbertville sanitary sewer system and shall include stubs to allow connection thereto by properties abutting the sewer extension. The contracts shall also require Eagle Hill to comply with sections 26 to 27, inclusive, of chapter 149 of the General Laws.  Eagle Hill may perform its obligations by employing independent design, engineering and construction contractors and subcontractors.

The town of Hardwick, in consideration of the environmental and public benefits derived from the sewer extension, may include terms in the contracts that entitle Eagle Hill to credits against sewer user fees in an amount equal to the costs incurred by Eagle Hill in excess of $2,000,000 for the sewer extension, as determined by the town’s board of sewer commissioners.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.