2017 -- S 0163 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- THE KENT COUNTY WATER

DISTRICT

     Introduced By: Senator Leonidas P. Raptakis

     Date Introduced: February 01, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 39-16-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-16 entitled "Kent

County Water District" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     39-16-4. Composition of board.

     (a) The board shall consist of five (5) seven (7) members, one member to be appointed by

the town councils respectively council of East Greenwich, West Warwick, and Coventry, and one

member two (2) members by the city council of the city of Warwick, and one additional member

shall be appointed by the council of the above named town or city having the greatest number of

inhabitants as shown by the United States census in effect when the appointment shall be made,

who are customers of the water authority. and two (2) members appointed by the town councils of

the towns of Coventry and West Warwick. The successor and successors of the original fifth

member shall be elected by the other members of the authority in the same manner, meaning that

the fifth member shall always be chosen from the town or city having the greatest number of

water takers of the authority at the time or times of the successive elections. The successors of the

other members shall be appointed in the same manner as described above. by their respective city

and town councils. A majority of the governing body appointing a member may remove the

member for willful misconduct.

     (b) The members of the board shall appoint a member to serve as chair of the board, and

such appointment shall be made at the board's first meeting after the effective date of this section.

The chair appointed shall serve for a seven (7) year term, at which time the board shall appoint a

new chair. No chair shall be eligible to serve consecutive terms as chair. No person who is

currently or has served previously as chair shall be eligible to serve as chair until 2025 or later. If

a chair is unable to complete their term, a new chair shall be appointed to serve a seven (7) year

term.

     (c) Each member shall serve for a term of ten (10) seven (7) years, except that all

vacancies occurring during a term shall be filled for the unexpired term. A member shall hold

office until his or her successor has been duly appointed and has qualified. Each member of the

authority shall take an oath to administer the duties of his or her office faithfully and impartially,

and the oath shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state.

     (c)(d) Three (3) Four (4) members of the authority shall constitute a quorum and the vote

of three (3) four (4) members shall be necessary for any action taken by the authority. No vacancy

in the membership of the authority shall impair the right of a quorum to exercise all the rights and

perform all the duties of the authority.

     (d)(e) In the event of a vacancy occurring in the board by reason of the death, resignation,

or removal for willful misconduct of a member, the governing body of the town or city, which

appointed the member, shall appoint a new member for the unexpired term.

     (e)(f) In the month of January, the board shall make an annual report to the town councils

of East Greenwich, West Warwick and Coventry, and to the city council of Warwick, of its

activities for the preceding fiscal year. Each report shall set forth a complete operating and

financial statement covering its operations during the year. The authority shall cause an annual

audit of the books, records, and accounts of the authority to be made.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- THE KENT COUNTY WATER

DISTRICT

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     This act would add two members to the board of the Kent County Water Authority.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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