SECTION 1. Chapter 40 of the acts of 1963 is hereby amended by striking out section 4 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 4. Creation and Organization of Historic Districts Commission. — A historic districts commission in the town of Sudbury is hereby established which shall consist of 5 unpaid members who shall be residents and voters of the town and shall be appointed by the select board in the manner and for the terms of office as herein provided and until their successors are appointed and qualified: — 1 member shall be a registered architect, or, in the event that none is available to serve, a person who in the opinion of the select board by reason of their experience in the building trades is qualified, whose initial appointment shall be for the term of the remainder of the calendar year in which such appointment is made and one year thereafter; where possible, 3 members shall be appointed from among the voters of the various historic districts, whose initial appointment shall be for the term of the remainder of the calendar year in which the appointment is made and 3 years thereafter; and 1 member shall be appointed from 2 nominees of the Sudbury historical commission. The select board shall appoint 2 associate members to the historic districts commission, said associate members being authorized to participate in all commission discussions, and, as designated by the chair, to sit as voting members in the event of an absence, inability to act, or conflict of interest on the part of any member of the commission, or in the event of a vacancy on the commission until said vacancy is filled in the manner prescribed herein.  Said associate members shall be appointed by the select board in the manner provided herein, at the discretion of the select board. As the terms of office of said members shall expire, their successors shall be appointed in like manner for terms of 5 years. All nominations for appointment of members of the said commission shall be submitted to the select board by letter, which shall contain a statement of the qualifications of the nominees. Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term from nominees of the commission who nominated the member who shall have vacated their office. A member who shall absent themself from 3 consecutive meetings of the commission, without cause, shall be deemed to have vacated their office, and the secretary of the commission shall give notice thereof to the select board who shall thereupon proceed to fill the vacancy. The commission shall elect a chair, vice-chair and secretary from its membership. In the case of absence of the chair from any meeting, the vice-chair shall preside.             

SECTION 2. Section 11 of said chapter 1963 is hereby amended by striking out the words “board of selectmen” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- select board.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.