2019 -- S 0314

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LC000409

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - KENT COUNTY WATER

DISTRICT

     Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, Rogers, Satchell, McCaffrey, and Morgan

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2019

     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 seven (7) members, one member to be appointed by the

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

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

Warwick. The successors of members shall be appointed 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-year (7) term, at which time the board shall appoint a

new chair. Effective September 1, 2019 and thereafter the term for the chair of the board shall be

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

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

term.

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

occurring during a term shall be filled for the unexpired term. Effective September 1, 2019 and

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

three (3) years. 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.

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

     (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 that

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

     (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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LC000409

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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

District board from seven (7) years to three (3) years, effective September 1, 2019. It would also

limit the chair to three (3) consecutive terms.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC000409

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