2023 -- H 5262

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LC000794

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- HISTORICAL AREA ZONING

     Introduced By: Representatives Donovan, and Speakman

     Date Introduced: January 27, 2023

     Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 45-24.1-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-24.1 entitled "Historical

Area Zoning" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     45-24.1-3. Creation of commission authorized — Membership appointment — Term

of office. [Effective January 1, 2023.]

     (a) In order to carry out the purposes of this chapter any city or town council shall have the

authority to create a commission called the historic district commission. The membership of a

commission in a city shall consist of seven (7) qualified members, and in a town shall consist of

not less than three (3) nor more than seven (7) qualified members, whose residence is located in

the city or town; and provided, that the historic district commission of the city of Providence shall

consist of eleven (11) qualified members, two (2) of whom shall be members of the city council

elected by the city council from its councilmanic members to serve for a term of four (4) years. In

a city the members shall be appointed by the mayor, except as provided in the case of the historic

district commission of the city of Providence, and in a town, by the president of the town council.

Members of an historic district commission shall be residents of the city or town.

     (b) The appointed members of the commission shall be appointed for three-year (3) terms,

except the initial appointments of some of the members shall be for less than three (3) years so that

the initial appointments are staggered and so that subsequent appointments do not reoccur at the

same time.

     (c) Any city or town has the right to name an auxiliary member of the commission

appointed in addition to the regular members of the commission; provided, that the city of Newport

and the town of Bristol shall have the right to appoint two (2) auxiliary members to its historic

district commission. An auxiliary member shall sit as an active member, upon the request of the

chair, when and if a regular member of the commission is unable to serve at any meeting of the

commission.

     (d) Appointed members of the commission are eligible for reappointment, and, upon the

expiration of their term, shall continue to serve until replaced unless otherwise provided for in local

law.

     (e) In the event of a vacancy on the commission, interim appointments of appointed

members may be made by the appointing authority to complete the unexpired term of the position.

     (f) Organized and existing preservation societies may present to the appointing authority

of a city or town a list of qualified citizens, from which list the appointing authority may select

members of the commission for his or her respective city or town.

     (g) Members of a commission shall serve without compensation.

     (h) Members of a commission shall be required to participate in continuing education

courses promulgated pursuant to chapter 70 of this title.

     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 TOWNS AND CITIES -- HISTORICAL AREA ZONING

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     This act would allow the town of Bristol to appoint a second auxiliary member to its

historical district commission.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC000794

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