SECTION 1.  Chapter 69 of the acts of 1912, as amended by chapter 598 of the acts of 1912, chapter 349 of the acts of 1948 and chapter 44 of the acts of 1988, is hereby amended by striking out section 3 and inserting in place thereof the following section:--Section 3.  The legal voters of the fire district shall elect a board of five commissioners, also known as a prudential committee. The commissioners, also known as committee members (hereinafter

“commissioners”) shall be legal inhabitants of and voters in the district, elected for alternating three year terms so that as nearly as possible an equivalent number of commissioners are elected each year.  The commissioners shall annually within fourteen days after the annual election of the fire district choose one of their number to act as president of the district for the ensuing year.  Said commissioners shall also be a board of commissioners of hydrants, water tanks for fire purposes, and street lamps.

The commissioners shall serve until the expiration of their respective terms of office and until others are chosen and qualified in their stead, but the district shall have authority to fill any vacancy in said board at any district meeting regularly called for that purpose.  The commissioners shall be sworn to the faithful performance of their duty and shall receive such compensation as may be determined by the voters of the district.

The commissioners shall appoint and may remove a suitably qualified person or persons to the offices of district clerk and district treasurer.  The clerk and treasurer shall be sworn and shall have and exercise all the powers and rights and be subject to the duties and liabilities of fire district clerks and treasurers as provided by law.

The legal voters of the fire district shall elect by ballot at the annual district election, a moderator for a three year term.  The moderator shall have all powers and rights and be subject to the duties and liabilities now or hereafter conferred or imposed on moderators by this act and under the general laws.

SECTION 2.  The provisions of this act shall not affect the existing term of any commissioner elected prior to the passage of this act.  At the first annual district election occurring more than 64 days following passage of this act, two additional offices for commissioner shall appear on the ballot, one for a one year term and one for a two year term; provided that nothing herein shall preclude the board of 

commissioners from calling a special election for such purposes.  

Thereafter, all commissioners shall be elected for three year terms.

  SECTION 3.  Notwithstanding section 1 of this act, any elected incumbent in the office of clerk or treasurer as of the effective date of this act, shall continue to hold such office and perform the duties thereof until the expiration of the term for which elected or sooner vacating of office.  Upon such expiration of term of office or sooner vacating of office, the elected positions of district clerk and treasurer shall be abolished and a district clerk and a treasurer shall be appointed as provided in this act; provided, however, that if the act is passed within 35 days of the annual district election, the elected positions of treasurer and clerk will become appointed positions on the date of the next following annual district election.

At the first annual district election following passage of this act, the office of moderator shall appear on the ballot for a three year term.

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