SECTION 1.  Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be in the Town of Westwood the appointed offices of town treasurer and tax collector, which offices may, but need not, be held by the same person, and which shall be appointed pursuant to the provisions of the charter of the town of Westwood on file with the archivist of the commonwealth in accord with section 12 of chapter 43B of the general laws.

SECTION 2.  Said charter of the town of Westwood is hereby amended by deleting the text and title of section 7 of chapter 4 and inserting in place thereof, the following: 4-7 Moderator.  4-7-1.  A moderator shall be elected for a term of 1 year and may receive such compensation as may be appropriated by the town meeting.

SECTION 3.  Subsection 1 of section 1 of chapter 8 of said town charter shall be amended by deleting the second sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- The department shall include the offices and functions of the town accountant, town treasurer, tax collector and board of assessors; provided, however, that although the office of the board of assessors shall be part of the department of municipal finance, such office shall continue to exercise its respective duties and responsibilities under the General Laws, except as otherwise provided in this charter.

SECTION 4. Following the effective date of this act, the town administrator may appoint a qualified person or persons to said office(s), which person or persons need not be residents of the town of Westwood, and, upon the effective date of such appointment(s), the terms of any elected or appointed incumbents shall be terminated and the elected positions abolished. 

SECTION 5.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.