2018 -- S 2558

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LC004617

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - KENT COUNTY WATER

DISTRICT

     

     Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, Satchell, and Goodwin

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2018

     Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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

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     39-16-4. Composition of board.

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

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town council of East Greenwich and two (2) members by the city council of the city of Warwick,

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and two (2) members appointed by the town councils of the towns of Coventry and West

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Warwick. The successors of members shall be appointed by their respective city and town

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

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willful misconduct.

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

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

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

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new chair. Effective September 1, 2018 and thereafter the term for the chair of the board shall be

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three (3) years and no chair shall serve more than three (3) consecutive terms. If a chair is unable

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to complete their term, a new chair shall be appointed to serve a seven-year (7) three (3) year

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term.

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

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occurring during a term shall be filled for the unexpired term. Effective September 1, 2018 and

 

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thereafter, each member's term and filling the balance of a member's unexpired term shall be

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three (3) years. A member shall hold office until his or her successor has been duly appointed and

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has qualified. Each member of the authority shall take an oath to administer the duties of his or

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her office faithfully and impartially, and the oath shall be filed in the office of the secretary of

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state.

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     (d) Four (4) members of the authority shall constitute a quorum and the vote of four (4)

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members shall be necessary for any action taken by the authority. No vacancy in the membership

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

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duties of the authority.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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     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 - KENT COUNTY WATER

DISTRICT

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     This act would reduce the term of office members and chair of the Kent County Water

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District board from seven (7) years to three (3) years, effective September 1, 2018. It would also

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limit the chair to three (3) consecutive terms.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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