2005 Rhode Island Code - § 39-18-2 — Authority created – Composition – Terms – Oath – Officers – Quorum – Compensation – Conflicts of interest.

    (a) There is hereby created a body corporate and politic to be known as the "Rhode Island public transit authority".

   (b) The authority shall consist of seven (7) members, four (4) of whom shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate; one shall be a member of the senate ex officio appointed by the president of the senate, one shall be a member of the house of representatives ex officio appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one of whom shall be the director of the department of transportation who shall serve as an ex officio member. Forthwith, upon the enactment of this chapter, the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint one member to serve until the first day of April, 1965, one member to serve until the first day of April, 1966, and one member to serve until the first day of April, 1967, and until their respective successors shall be duly appointed and qualified. Ex officio members shall serve during their respective terms of office.

   (c) In the month of March 1965, and in the months of March annually thereafter, the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint one member of the authority to serve for a term of three (3) years to succeed the member whose term will then next expire. On or before July 1, 1979, the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint the seventh member to serve until the first day of April, 1982 and until his or her respective successor shall be duly appointed and qualified. In the event of a vacancy occurring in the membership, the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint a member for the unexpired term. Any member of the authority shall be eligible for reappointment.

   (d) Each member of the authority, before entering upon his or her duties, 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.

   (e) The authority shall elect one of its members as chairperson, and shall also elect a secretary.

   (f) 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. 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.

   (g) The members of the authority appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate shall receive twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per day as compensation for attendance at meetings of the authority, but not to exceed the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars ($2,500) annually as compensation of each member, such amounts to be payable from the revenue of the authority. Ex officio members shall receive no compensation, but all members of the authority shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties.

   (h) No member of the authority shall be in the employ of, or own any stock in, or be in any way directly or indirectly pecuniarily interested in any railroad corporation, bus, or street railway company, nor shall any member of the authority personally or through a partner or agent render any professional service or make or perform any business contract with or for any company; nor shall any member of the authority, directly or indirectly, receive a commission, bonus, discount, present, or reward from any company.