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 the provisions of chapter 186 of the acts of 1998 or any other general or special law to the contrary, the clerk of the town of Spencer is hereby appointed to act as a member of the board of selectmen of said town for the interim period beginning with the effective date of this act and continuing until the election and qualification of successor selectmen at a special election to be held for that purpose under the provisions of law governing elections to local office.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of said chapter 186 or any other general or special law to the contrary, for the interim period of the appointment of the clerk of the town of Spencer to act as a member of the board of selectmen, as provided in section 1, said board shall be authorized to act only upon limited ministerial matters and as license and permit authority, to appoint special town counsel in matters where town counsel is recused, in imminent threat or emergency, and to respond to and settle claims against the town of Spencer.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.