2023 -- S 0596

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LC001250

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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 PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- KENT COUNTY WATER

DISTRICT

     Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, Rogers, E Morgan, Burke, LaMountain, McKenney,
Valverde, DiMario, and DeLuca

     Date Introduced: March 07, 2023

     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;

provided, however that on and after September 1, 2023 the board shall consist of eight (8) members

with the addition of a member appointed by the town council of West Greenwich. 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

the 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. If a chair is unable to complete their term, a new chair shall be appointed to serve a

seven-year (7) 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. 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; provided, however that on and

after September 1, 2023 five (5) members of the authority shall constitute a quorum and the vote

of five (5) 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 on September 1, 2023.

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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 add an eighth member from the town of West Greenwich to the Kent County

Water Board. The act would also raise the number required for a quorum from four (4) to five (5),

and five (5) members would be required to take action.

     This act would take effect on September 1, 2023.

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