It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 45-4-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-4 entitled "Election and Qualification of Officers" is hereby amended to read as follows:

45-4-1. Officers to be elected. -- (a) The electors in each town shall, on their town election days, choose and elect as many town officers as by the laws of the state are or shall be required; that is to say, a moderator to preside in all the meetings of the town, and a town clerk, a town council to consist of not less than three (3) nor more than seven (7) members, a town treasurer, a town sergeant, a town sealer of weights and measures, one or more auctioneers, such a number of assessors of taxes, not less than three (3) nor more than seven (7), as may be deemed necessary, one or more collectors of taxes, one or more corders of wood, one or more packers of fish, one or more poundkeepers, one sealer of leather, and as many constables, directors of public welfare, viewers of fences, gaugers of casks, and all such other officers as by law are required in the town and as each or any town shall have occasion for, including persons to superintend the building of chimneys and placing of stoves and stovepipes, provided however that in the town of East Greenwich no constables shall be elected hereunder.

(b) It is further provided that in the town of Burrillville no corders of wood, packers of fish, sealers of leather, gaugers of casks, and persons to superintend the building of chimneys and placing of stoves and stovepipes shall be elected hereunder.

{ADD (c) It is further provided that in the town of Exeter, no tax collector shall be elected hereunder. The town council of the town of Exeter shall amend the Exeter town ordinances to provide for and entitle the town council to appoint a tax collector who shall serve at the pleasure of the town council and who may be removed for cause shown pursuant to RIGL 44-7-5. Qualifications for such position shall be set by the town council and compensation shall be paid as approved by the town financial meeting. The tax collector shall perform all duties heretofore required of the elected tax collector in the town of Exeter and such other and further duties as may be required by law. ADD}

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage and shall govern appointment to the position of tax collector on or after November 1, 1996.