SECTION 1. Notwithstanding section 1 of chapter 41 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary there shall be a town treasurer for the town of Hardwick. The town treasurer shall have all the powers, perform the duties and be subject to the liabilities and penalties now or hereafter conferred and imposed by law on town treasurer. The town treasurer shall be appointed and may be removed, after the opportunity for a hearing by the board of selectmen of the town. The board of selectmen may establish an employment contract for the town treasurer for salary, fringe benefits and other conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, severance pay, reimbursement for expenses incurred in the 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 elected office of town treasurer shall be abolished and the term of such office terminated; provided, however, that any incumbent of such office serving on the effective date of this act shall continue to hold said office and to perform the duties thereof until the expiration of the term for which said individual was elected or until said individual otherwise vacates such office. After the expiration of the term of the incumbent town treasurer, or a sooner vacating of the office; the position shall be posted and published in a local newspaper, a search committee shall be formed to include: town assessor, town accountant, town collector, town administrator, finance committee chairperson and one public at large member to conduct preliminary interviews and shall provide the top 3 candidates to the board of selectmen. The board of selectmen shall interview the recommended candidates and shall appoint a town treasurer as under section 1.

SECTION 3. No contracts or liabilities in force on the effective date of this act shall be affected by the abolition of the elected office of town treasurer and the appointment of a town treasurer and the appointed town treasurer shall, in all respects, be the lawful successor of the office so abolished. All records, property and equipment of the office of the elected town treasurer shall be assigned to the office of the appointed town treasurer.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage.