SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be established in the town of Ayer the appointed position of treasurer-collector.  Said treasurer-collector shall be appointed and may be removed by the Ayer board of selectmen, and shall serve at its pleasure.  The treasurer-collector shall have all the powers and duties and be subject to the liabilities and penalties imposed by law on town treasurers and town collectors of taxes.  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 expenses incurred in performance of the duties of office, liability insurance and conditions of discipline, termination, dismissal, reappointment, performance standards and leave.

SECTION 2. 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 officer or officers holding said offices shall be terminated.  The elected incumbent holding the office with the longer term remaining shall become the first appointed treasurer-collector and shall serve for a period equivalent to the remainder of such elected term or sooner vacating of office.  Thereafter, appointments to the position of treasurer-collector shall be made in accordance with section 1. 

SECTION 3.  As of the effective date of this act, all records, property and equipment of the offices of the treasurer and collector, shall be transferred to the combined office.  All official bonds, obligations, contracts and other instruments entered into or executed by or on behalf of the town before adoption of this act and all taxes, assessments, fines, penalties and forfeitures incurred or imposed, due or owing to the town, shall, notwithstanding any provision of this act, continue to be enforced and collected without abatement, except as otherwise provided by law. No contracts or liabilities in force on the effective date of this act shall be affected by the adoption of this act or the abolition of the elected offices of treasurer and collector.  The appointed treasurer-collector position created by section 1 shall, in all respects, be the lawful successor of the elected offices of town treasurer and tax collector. 

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage. Or take any other action relative thereto.