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

Notwithstanding section 8C of chapter 40 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the town of Hanover may, by amending its by-laws, provide that the conservation commission of the town of Hanover, may have 2 associate members. The associate members shall be appointed by the board of selectmen on the recommendation of the conservation commission, each for a term of 2 years. Associate members shall be authorized to act as conservation commission members, when asked to do so by the remaining members of the commission if a regular member is absent or unable to participate because of a conflict of interest or other reason or if a vacancy exists.