Rhode Island General Laws Title 39. Public Utilities and Carriers § 39-16-4. Composition of board

(a) The board shall consist of seven (7) members, one member to be appointed by the town council of East Greenwich and two (2) members by the city council of the city of Warwick, and two (2) members each appointed by the town councils of the towns of Coventry and West Warwick. The successors of members shall be appointed by their respective city and town councils. A majority of the governing body appointing a member may remove the member for willful misconduct.

(b) The members of the board shall appoint a member to serve as chair of the board, and the appointment shall be made at the board's first meeting after the effective date of this section. The chair appointed shall serve for a seven-year (7) term, at which time the board shall appoint a new chair. If a chair is unable to complete their term, a new chair shall be appointed to serve a seven-year (7) term.

(c) Each member shall serve for a term of seven (7) 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.

(d) 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.

(e) 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 that appointed the member shall appoint a new member for the unexpired term.

(f) 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.