2013 -- H 5399

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LC01217

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- KENT COUNTY WATER

DISTRICT

     Introduced By: Representatives Nunes, Tomasso, Costa, and Marcello

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2013

     Referred To: House Corporations

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. -- (a) The board shall consist of five (5) nine (9)

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members, one member to be appointed by the town councils respectively of East Greenwich,

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West Warwick, and Coventry, West Greenwich, Scituate, and North Kingstown, and one member

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by the city council of the city of Warwick and Cranston, and one additional member shall be

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appointed by the council of the above named town or city having the greatest number of

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inhabitants as shown by the United States census in effect when the appointment shall be made,

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who are customers of the water authority. The successor and successors of the original fifth ninth

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member shall be elected by the other members of the authority in the same manner, meaning that

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the fifth ninth member shall always be chosen from the town or city having the greatest number

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of water takers of the authority at the time or times of the successive elections. The successors of

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the other members shall be appointed in the same manner as described above. A majority of the

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governing body appointing a member may remove the member for willful misconduct.

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      (b) Each member shall serve for a term of ten (10) five (5) years, except that all

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vacancies occurring during a term shall be filled for the unexpired term. A member shall hold

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office until his or her successor has been duly appointed and has qualified. Each member of the

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authority shall take an oath to administer the duties of his or her office faithfully and impartially,

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and the oath shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state.

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      (c) Three (3) Five (5) members of the authority shall constitute a quorum and the vote of

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three (3) five (5) members shall be necessary for any action taken by the authority. No vacancy in

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

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perform all the duties of the authority.

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

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

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

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

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of East Greenwich, West Warwick and Coventry, West Greenwich, Scituate, and North

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Kingstown and to the city council of Warwick and Cranston of its activities for the preceding

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fiscal year. Each report shall set forth a complete operating and financial statement covering its

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operations during the year. The authority shall cause an annual audit of the books, records, and

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accounts of the authority to be made.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01217

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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 expand membership of the Kent County water district board to nine (9)

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members, adding members from West Greenwich, Scituate, North Kingstown and Cranston.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC01217

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