Chapter 016
2023 -- S 0114
Enacted 05/15/2023

A N   A C T
RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- HISTORICAL AREA ZONING

Introduced By: Senators Felag, Lauria, and Ujifusa

Date Introduced: February 01, 2023

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 their historic
district commission commissions. 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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