SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the office of Town Clerk in the Town of Falmouth shall be appointed by the Town Manager subject to the approval of the Select Board, in accordance with other appointments made by the Town Manager under the Charter of the Town of Falmouth. The Town Clerk shall have all the powers, perform all the duties and be subject to the liability and penalties conferred and imposed by law on town clerks. The Town Clerk shall enjoy and be subject to all benefits, including salary, fringe benefits and other conditions of employment, as the existing Town Clerk and the position of Town Clerk shall be placed on the Town of Falmouth Technical Administrative and Management (TAM) Full Time Non-Union Salary Table accordingly.

 SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 1, the position of elected Town Clerk 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 in the case of resignation, retirement or removal. Thereafter, appointments to the position of Town Clerk shall be made by the Town Manager, subject to the approval of the Select Board under Section 1.

 SECTION 3. The Charter of the Town of Falmouth, 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 as follows:

 Striking out the words “and a Town Clerk” from section C4-1(A) so that said section states as follows: Following adoption of this Charter, the only officer to be elected shall be a Moderator.

 Striking out sections C4-3(A) and C4-3(C) in their entireties and renumbering section C4-3 accordingly.

 Adding the words “a Town Clerk” to section C5-4(A) so that said section states as follows: Subject to the approval of the Select Board granted within ten (10) working days, the Town Manager shall appoint on the basis of fitness and merit alone, an Assistant Town Manager, a Town Planner, a Town Counsel, a Finance Director, a Director of Personnel, a Town Clerk and other department and division heads. The failure of the Select Board to act within ten (10) working days shall constitute approval of the Town Manager’s action. The Town Manager may suspend or remove any person so appointed consistent with the General Laws, this Charter or the bylaws of the Town.

 SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage.