§ 45-25-10 - Appointment and terms of commissioners – Compensation, organization, and personnel.
SECTION 45-25-10
§ 45-25-10 Appointment and terms ofcommissioners – Compensation, organization, and personnel. – (a) An authority consists of five (5) commissioners appointed by the mayor andhe or she shall designate the first chairperson; provided, that the housingauthority of the city of Providence consists of eleven (11) commissioners whoare residents of the city of Providence, and the housing authority of the cityof Woonsocket shall consist of seven (7) members, two (2) of whom shall beoccupants of public housing. At all times three (3) of the commissioners mustbe occupants of public housing, which commissioners shall be appointed from alist of nominees chosen yearly by the occupants of public housing in openelections, each housing project choosing three (3) nominees from among itsoccupants. Upon the determination of the appointing authority that anycommissioner has not been an occupant of public housing or not a resident ofthe city of Providence for a period of six (6) consecutive months, theappointing authority shall remove the commissioner and designate a person tofill the resultant vacancy; provided, that the mayor choose the replacementfrom the list of nominees chosen yearly by the occupants of public housing whenappropriate. No commissioner may be a city or state official; provided, thatmembers of the housing authority of the city of Providence may serve on thecity council.
(b) The commissioners who are first appointed shall bedesignated by the mayor to serve for terms of one, two (2), three (3), four(4), and five (5) years, respectively, from the date of their appointment. Four(4) additional commissioners for the housing authority for the city ofProvidence shall be designated by the mayor to serve terms of one, two (2),three (3), and four (4) years, respectively, from the date of theirappointment. The two (2) additional commissioners for the city of Woonsocketshall be designated by the mayor to serve terms of one and two (2) yearsrespectively. Thereafter, the term of office shall be five (5) years. Two (2)additional commissioners for the housing authority of the city of Providenceshall be members of the city council elected by the city council from itscouncilmanic members to serve for a term ending the first Monday in January,1975, and, thereafter, elected for a term of four (4) years. A commissionershall hold office until his or her successor has been appointed, or elected,and has qualified. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term. Three (3)commissioners constitute a quorum except that six (6) commissioners of thehousing authority of the city of Providence constitute a quorum.
(c) The mayor shall file with the city clerk a certificate ofthe appointment or reappointment of any commissioner, and the certificate isconclusive evidence of the due and proper appointment of the commissioner. Acommissioner of the city of Providence shall only receive twenty-five dollars($25.00) per meeting, but not in excess of twelve hundred dollars ($1,200) peryear as compensation for his or her services, and the commissioner is entitledto the necessary expenses including traveling expenses incurred in thedischarge of his or her duties, the compensation and expenses to be paid by themunicipality of Providence; provided, that a commissioner of the city ofPawtucket receives one thousand two hundred dollars ($1,200) per year and isentitled to the necessary expenses including traveling expenses incurred in thedischarge of his or her duties, to be paid by the city of Pawtucket; provided,that a commissioner of the city of Central Falls receives twenty-five dollars($25.00) per meeting but not in excess of five hundred dollars ($500) per yearas compensation for his or her services, and the commissioner is entitled tothe necessary expenses including traveling expenses incurred in the dischargeof his or her duties, to be paid by the city of Central Falls.
(d) Effective January 1, 1988, and thereafter, a commissionerof the city of Warwick receives one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) peryear, and the chairperson of the Warwick housing authority receives onethousand seven hundred dollars ($1,700) per year for their services to be paidby the city of Warwick.
(e) When the office of the first chairperson of the authoritybecomes vacant, the authority shall select a chairperson from among itsmembers. An authority shall select from its members a vice chairperson, and itmay employ a secretary (who shall be executive director), technical experts,and other officers, agents, and employees, permanent and temporary, that it mayrequire, and shall determine their qualifications, duties, and compensation. Anauthority may call upon the city solicitor or chief law officer of the city forlegal services, as it may require, or it may employ its own counsel and legalstaff. An authority may delegate to one or more of its agents or employees thepowers or duties that it deems proper.