It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. An act entitled "An Act Providing for Tenure for Certain Town Officials in the Town of West Greenwich" enacted as Public Laws 1975, Chapter 46, as amended by Public Laws 1981, Chapter 295, is hereby further amended as follows:

Sec. 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law to the contrary, the town clerk, town treasurer, director of public welfare, tax collector {DEL , tax assessor DEL} and highway supervisor of the town of West Greenwich, whether elected or appointed, shall enjoy tenure of office as herein provided with no decrease in pay and shall be subject to removal only for good and sufficient cause.

Sec. 3. Any person elected town clerk, town treasurer, {DEL tax assessor, DEL} or director of public welfare, and any person appointed tax collector or highway supervisor, either before or after the passage of this act, who shall have served in such capacity for a period of not less than five (5) years, shall thereafter enjoy tenure of office with no decrease in pay and shall be subject to removal only for good and sufficient cause.

Sec. 4. Whenever a vacancy shall occur in the office of town clerk, town treasurer {DEL , tax assessor DEL} and/or director of public welfare, the provisions and procedure set forth in section 45-4-16 of the general laws of Rhode Island, as amended, for the filling of vacancies in the city and town offices, shall apply.

Sec. 5. Whenever a vacancy shall occur in the office of tax collector and/or highway supervisor, appointments to fill such vacancies shall be made in the manner prevailing at the time of passage of this act.

Sec. 6. This act shall take effect upon passage, and all acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.