SECTION 1 . Section 3-1 of article 3 of the charter of the town of Grafton, which is on file in the office of the archivist of the commonwealth, as provided in section 12 of chapter 43B of the General Laws, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (a) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

(a) Elective offices- The Town offices to be filled by ballot of the whole town shall

be a Select Board, a School Committee, a Board of Library Trustees, a Town Moderator

and Planning Board. In addition, members of a Housing Authority, and such members of

regional authorities or districts as may be established by statue, inter-local agreement or

otherwise shall also be elected at Town election.

SECTION 2. Section 3-5 of said article 3 of said charter, is hereby repealed.

SECTION 3 . Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the office of town clerk in the town of Grafton shall be appointed by the town administrator in accordance with the charter of the town of Grafton. The town clerk shall have all the powers, perform the duties and be subject to liabilities and penalties conferred and imposed by law on town clerks. The town administrator may establish an employment contract with the town clerk 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 4. Notwithstanding section 3, the position of elected town clerk in the town of Grafton shall be abolished upon the effective date of this act and the term of the elected incumbent terminated; provided, however, that the elected incumbent shall then become the first appointed town clerk and shall serve in that capacity for a period of time equivalent to the remainder of the elected term or sooner resignation, retirement or removal. Thereafter, appointments to the position of town clerk shall be made by the town administrator under said section 3.

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