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 any general or special law to the contrary, the town of Reading shall print on the ballot for the April 3, 2001 town election the names of candidates nominated for the office of selectman for a one-year term, to fill a vacancy. Nomination papers for this office may be obtained until the filing deadline for certification of signatures. Such nomination papers shall be filed with the board of registrars for certification of signatures not later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 22, 2001. The board of registrars shall complete certification of signatures on such papers not later than 12:00 noon on Tuesday, February 27, 2001. Such nomination papers shall be filed with the town clerk not later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 27, 2001. All other dates set forth in the statute pertaining to the election shall apply.

SECTION 2. This act shall in no way limit a candidate for any other office from filing nomination papers for the vacant selectman seat and withdrawing as a candidate for any other position, as long as such withdrawal is filed not later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 1, 2001.

SECTION 3. If section 1 is not in effect on February 15, 2001, then sections 1 and 2 shall not apply, and the person receiving the third-highest number of votes in the election for selectmen to be held on April 3, 2001 shall be elected for the remainder of the term of the existing vacancy in the board of selectmen.

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