2005 Rhode Island Code - § 39-16-4 — Composition of board.

    (a) The board shall consist of five (5) members, one member to be appointed by the town councils respectively of East Greenwich, West Warwick, and Coventry, and one member by the city council of the city of Warwick, and one additional member shall be appointed by the council of the above named town or city having the greatest number of inhabitants as shown by the United States census in effect when the appointment shall be made, who are customers of the water authority. The successor and successors of the original fifth member shall be elected by the other members of the authority in the same manner, meaning that the fifth member shall always be chosen from the town or city having the greatest number of water takers of the authority at the time or times of the successive elections. The successors of the other members shall be appointed in the same manner as described above. A majority of the governing body appointing a member may remove the member for willful misconduct.

   (b) Each member shall serve for a term of ten (10) 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.

   (c) Three (3) members of the authority shall constitute a quorum and the vote of three (3) 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.

   (d) 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, which appointed the member, shall appoint a new member for the unexpired term.

   (e) 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.