Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Notwithstanding any other general or special law to the contrary, the town of Canton may appoint as a police officer any person who was eligible for such appointment at the time the most recent civil service examination was given, but has been rendered ineligible for appointment by the town's acceptance of section 58A of chapter 31 of the General Laws by a vote of the town under Article 37 of the warrant for the 2001 annual town meeting. This authority to appoint such person as a police officer shall continue until the current civil service list expires.