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. Section 4 of chapter 4 of the charter of the town of Southbridge, 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 4-4-5 and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

4-4-5. He shall keep the council fully informed in a timely manner regarding all departmental operations, fiscal affairs, problems and administrative actions.

SECTION 2. Section 8 of chapter 6 of said charter is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-

6-8-4. All contracts for services negotiated by the town manager shall be ratified by a majority vote of town council.

SECTION 3. Section 3 of chapter 8 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out subsection 8-3-2 and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

8-3-2. The town manager shall have the power to appoint, subject to confirmation by the town council, the following town boards and commissions: constables, commissioners of trust funds and World War I memorial trustees.

SECTION 4. Section 4 of said chapter 8 is hereby amended by striking out subsection 8-4-1 and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

8-4-1. The town manager shall have the power to appoint, subject to confirmation by the town council, such other individual town officers and members of boards and commissions as are authorized by the General Laws, this charter or by-laws and for whom appointment is not otherwise provided.

SECTION 5. Section 5 of said chapter 8 is hereby amended by striking out subsection 8-5-1 and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

8-5-1. The town manager shall have the power to rescind, subject to confirmation by the town council, for cause, including excessive and unexcused absenteeism, any appointment made by him to any board, commission, committee or individual officer under the authority of this charter, provided that the appointee shall first have been served with a written notice of the town manager's intention specifying the reasons for the proposed removal and informing the appointee of his right to be heard at a public hearing, if requested.