SECTION 1.  Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be appointed offices of town treasurer and tax collector in the town of Westwood, which offices may be held by the same person and which shall be appointed pursuant to the charter of the town of Westwood.

SECTION 2.  The charter of the town of Westwood, 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 section 4-6-2.

SECTION 3. Said charter of the town of Westwood is hereby further amended by striking out section 4-7-1 and inserting in place thereof the following section:- 

4-7 Moderator.  

4-7-1.  

A moderator shall be elected for a term of 1 year, and a town clerk shall be elected for a term of 3 years. Each officer elected pursuant to this section may receive such compensation as may be appropriated by the town meeting.”

SECTION 4.  Section 8-1-1 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out 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 5. Following the effective date of this act, the town administrator may appoint a qualified person or persons to the offices of town treasurer and tax collector; provided, that such person or persons need not be residents of the town of Westwood. Upon the effective date of any such appointments, the terms of any elected incumbents shall be terminated and the elected positions abolished. 

SECTION 6.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.