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 clerk of the town of Brookfield shall act as a member of the board of selectmen of the 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 law governing elections to local office.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, for the interim period of the clerk's acting as a member of the board of selectmen, as provided in section 1, the board may act only upon limited ministerial matters and as license and permit authority, may appoint special town counsel in matters where town counsel is recused, in imminent threat or emergency, and may respond to and settle claims against the town of Brookfield.

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