Whereas, The city known as the Town of Amherst has changed its form of government and desires to elect its first Town Council as soon as practicable,

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law or Charter provision of the city known as the Town of Amherst to the contrary, the city known as the town of Amherst shall hold a special election for the office of Town Councilor on November 6, 2018 and a preliminary election for the office of Town Councilor on September 4, 2018.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 7 of Chapter 53 of the Massachusetts General Laws or any other general or special law or Charter provision to the contrary, nomination papers for the office of Town Council member shall be filed with the Board of Registrars of the city known as the Town of Amherst for certification of signatures on or before 5:00 p.m. on June 29, 2018.

SECTION 3. Notwithstanding any other general or special law or Charter provision to the contrary, the Board of Registrars shall complete certification of signatures on these nomination papers on or before 5:00 p.m. on July 10, 2018.

SECTION 4. Notwithstanding Section 10 of Chapter 53 of the Massachusetts General Laws or any other general or special law or Charter provision to the contrary, certified nomination papers shall be filed with the Town Clerk on or before 5:00 p.m. on July 13, 2018.

SECTION 5. Notwithstanding Section 11 of Chapter 53 of the Massachusetts General Laws or any other general or special law or Charter provision to the contrary, a candidate who has filed nomination papers to fill the vacancy in the office of Town Council member may withdraw his or her nomination by filing a notarized withdrawal no later than 5:00 p.m. on July 17, 2018.

SECTION 6. The Town Clerk shall take all actions necessary to conduct the special election for the Town Council on November 6, 2018 as provided in Section 10.7 of the Charter as adopted on March 27, 2018.

SECTION 7. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the issuance by the Town Clerk of nomination papers for the office of town council member and the filing of such nomination papers with the Board of Registrars and Town Clerk prior to the effective date of this act, but otherwise in conformance with this act and applicable law, shall be ratified, validated and confirmed as though this act had then been in effect.

SECTION 8. This act shall take effect upon its passage.