SECTION 1. Notwithstanding section 1 of chapter 41 of the General Laws or any other general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, there shall be a treasurer-collector for the town of Hardwick. The treasurer-collector 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 treasurers and town collectors of taxes. The treasurer­ collector 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 agreement 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 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 appointed offices of town treasurer and town collector shall be abolished and the terms of the incumbents of such offices terminated.

SECTION 3. The appointed treasurer-collector shall, in all respects, be the lawful successor of the offices so abolished or consolidated. All records, property and equipment of the offices of the appointed town treasurer and appointed town collector shall be assigned to the office of the appointed treasurer-collector.

SECTION 4. Th.is act shall take effect upon its passage.