[Approved at election 11/4/14]
The Council may appoint a Town Administrator to serve during
the Council's pleasure, to assist it in the discharge of its executive
and administrative responsibilities. Such appointment shall be made
from among persons with appropriate academic training in management
and administration and/or at least five (5) years management experience
preferably in part in local or State government. Expert knowledge
and/or experience in one or more of the following required: personnel
administration, labor negotiation, budgeting, financial administration,
accounting, land use planning, public works or municipal law.
A. The
Council shall by ordinance define the responsibilities of the office
of Town Administrator, his or her relationship to the officials, departments,
boards and commissions which compose the Town government, whether
the Town Administrator shall devote part time or full time to the
duties of the office, and other terms of employment.
B. Compensation
and benefits for the Town Administrator shall be as set by the Financial
Town Meeting.
[Reso. 7/11/02; approved at election 11/5/02]
There shall be a Town Clerk who shall be elected at the general
election each even numbered year to serve for a two (2) year term
or until his or her successor is elected and qualified. The Town Clerk
shall have all the duties and responsibilities of Town Clerks as provided
by State law, shall be Clerk of the Council, of the Board of Canvassers,
and of the Probate Court, and shall perform such other duties and
responsibilities not in conflict with State law. The Town Clerk shall
have the authority to employ a Deputy Town Clerk with the approval
of the Council, and such Deputy Town Clerk shall in the absence or
inability of the Town Clerk, discharge all of the duties and responsibilities
of that office. The Town Clerk shall be responsible for the good conduct
of the Deputy, and may revoke the appointment at the Clerk's discretion.
In the event that the Town Clerk and the Deputy Town Clerk are both
unable to complete the term of office, the Council shall appoint an
interim Clerk to fill the balance of the term of office.
[Reso. 7/11/02; approved at election 11/5/02; approved at
election 11/6/18; approved at election 11/8/2022]
In conformance with RIGL 45-8, the Town Council shall appoint
a Town Treasurer who shall, at the discretion of the Town Council,
also hold and exercise, in conformance with RIGL 44-5, the office
of Town Tax Collector. The combined position shall serve until his
or her successor is appointed. The Town Treasurer shall have all of
the duties and responsibilities conferred upon Town Treasurers by
State law, and all of the duties and responsibilities conferred upon
Town Tax Collectors by State law, and shall give bond for each or
both offices before assuming his or her duties, as provided in State
law. The Town Treasurer may appoint a Deputy Town Treasurer with the
approval of the Finance Director, and any such Deputy Treasurer shall,
in the absence or inability of the Town Treasurer, have all the powers
and responsibilities of the Town Treasurer and of the Tax Collector,
provided however, that in no case shall the Deputy have the power
to sign the bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness of the
Town except with the approval of the Council. The Deputy Treasurer
shall also be bonded by the Town. The Town Treasurer shall be responsible
for any misconduct, neglect, or default of the Deputy, and the Finance
Director may revoke the appointment at his or her discretion. In the
event that the Treasurer/Tax Collector and the Deputy Treasurer are
both unable to complete the term of office, the Council shall appoint
an Interim Treasurer to fill the balance of the term of office.
The Town Council may, by ordinance, make provision for the assumption
of duties of the Town Treasurer/Tax Collector by the Town Finance
Director.
[Approved at election 11/6/18]
There shall be a Town Solicitor appointed by the Council within
sixty (60) days following its election, to serve for a term of two
(2) years or until his or her successor is appointed. The Solicitor
shall be appointed from among persons admitted to the bar in Rhode
Island who have had significant experience in the various aspects
of municipal law, and who has practiced before the various Courts
of the State. The Solicitor need not devote full time to his or her
office. The Council in its discretion may retain the services of a
law firm to provide the legal services of Town Solicitor and may retain
or authorize the retention of special counsel for the Town or for
a board or commission, department or officer for extra or unusual
services. The Town Solicitor shall be the legal advisor of, and attorney
and counsel for, the Town and for all boards, commissions, departments
and officers thereof.
[Reso. 7/21/16; approved at election 11/8/16; approved at
election 11/8/2022]
The Town Council has, by ordinance, made provision for the replacement
of the Board of Tax Assessors with a single Tax Assessor employed
by the Town Council from among persons having had prior professional
training and/or experience in assessment, property appraisal and related
matters. The Tax Assessor shall have and perform all of the duties
and discharge the responsibilities of Tax Assessors as set forth in
State Law.
[Reso. 7/11/02; approved at election 11/5/02; approved at
election 11/8/2022]
There shall be a Tax Assessment Board of Review consisting of
three (3) members, appointed by the Town Council, each to serve for
a term of six (6) years with terms staggered such that the office
of one (1) board member shall become vacant every two (2) years. The
procedure for filing of requests for review of tax assessments, for
the review process to be conducted by the Tax Assessment Board of
Review, and the authority for the making of any adjustment in an assessment
for which the Board finds an adjustment appropriate, and other matters
pertaining to the duties of the Board, shall be determined by ordinance.
Appeals resulting from decisions of the Tax Assessment Board of Review
may be taken as provided by State law.
[Reso. 7/11/02; approved at election 11/5/02]
There shall be a Town Sergeant, who shall be appointed by the
Town Council in each even numbered year to serve for a two (2) year
term, or until his or her successor is appointed. The Town Sergeant
shall have such powers and duties as are prescribed by State law and
such compensation as may be fixed by the Town Meeting.
[Reso. 7/11/02; approved at election 11/5/02]
The Town Council shall make provision for the conduct of all
inspections which are required, or shall in the future be required
of towns to make, including but not limited to zoning inspections,
building, electrical, plumbing and related inspections, minimum housing
inspections, and the like, and shall appoint a person or persons to
conduct such inspections who are qualified by training, experience
and/or license where applicable, in the various professions and specialties
involved. Where appropriate the same individual may be appointed with
responsibilities of conducting two or more types of inspections.
[Reso. 7/11/02; approved at election 11/5/02]
There shall be a Probate Court for the Town with the powers
and responsibilities prescribed by State law, and the Town Council
shall appoint a judge for said Court from among attorneys who have
been admitted to the bar in Rhode Island, and who shall have had at
least five (5) years experience in active practice of law in the courts
of this State, to serve for a term of two (2) years commencing on
the first of July and ending June 30th of the second year following,
or until a successor is appointed and qualified. The Council may make
provision for a deputy or alternate to serve as judge in the absence
or inability of the Probate Judge.
[Reso. 7/11/02; approved at election 11/5/02]
There shall be a Local Emergency Management Agency in the Town
headed by a Local Emergency Management Director, who shall be appointed
by the Council and may be the Council President. The Little Compton
Agency shall have powers and responsibilities similar to those of
the State agency of the same name, as set forth in State law.
[Reso. 7/20/00; approved at election 11/7/00; Reso. 7/11/02;
approved at election 11/5/02]
There shall be a Director of Social Services, who shall be appointed
by the Town Council in each even numbered year to serve for a two
(2) year term or until his or her successor is appointed. The Social
Services Director shall have such duties and responsibilities as are
assigned to the office by State law and such compensation as may be
fixed by the Financial Town Meeting.
[Approved at election 11/8/2022]
A Town Finance Director shall be employed by the Town Council
from among persons having had prior professional training and/or experience
in financial management, financial services and accounting. At the
discretion of the Town Council, the duties of the appointed Town Finance
Director may include those specified in Section 603 for the position
of Treasurer/Tax Collector and any other additional duties set by
the Town Council by ordinance.