AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS IN THE TOWN OF HARDWICK
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same as follows:
SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the board of selectmen of the town of Hardwick shall appoint a superintendent of streets for a term of not more than 3 years. The superintendent of streets shall be under the direction of the board of selectmen and shall have full charge of all repairs and labor upon pubic ways and sidewalks and, in relation to such matters, the superintendent of streets shall have the power, perform the duties and be subject to the liabilities and penalties of surveyors of highways and road commissioners. The board of selectmen may remove the superintendent of streets after the opportunity for a hearing.
The board of selectmen may establish an employment contract for the superintendent of streets for salary, fringe benefits and other conditions of employment including, but not limited to, severance pay, reimbursement of expenses incurred in the performance of the duties of the office, liability insurance and conditions of discipline, termination, dismissal, reappointment, performance standards and leave.
SECTION 2. On the effective date of this act, the elected office of highway surveyor of the town of Hardwick shall be abolished and the term of such office shall be terminated; provided, however, that the incumbent in that office serving on the effective date of this act shall continue to hold that office and perform the duties thereof until the expiration of the term for which the highway surveyor was elected or until the highway surveyor otherwise vacates such office. After the expiration of the term of the incumbent highway surveyor or a sooner vacating of the office, the board of selectmen shall appoint a superintendent of streets pursuant to section 1.
SECTION 3. No contracts or liabilities in force on the effective date of this act shall be affected by the abolition of the elected office of highway surveyor of the town of Hardwick and the appointment of a superintendent of streets shall, in all respects, be the lawful successor of the office abolished. All records, property and equipment of the office of the highway surveyor shall be assigned to the office of the superintendent of streets.
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved, February 4, 2016.