Rhode Island General Laws Title 45. Towns and Cities § 45-22-5. Organization, technical assistance, and cooperative agreements

(a) A planning board or commission shall organize annually by electing from its membership a chairperson, a vice chairperson, and a secretary. The board or commission may adopt any procedural rules deemed necessary to the discharge of its duties.

(b) A planning board or commission may, subject to the approval of the appointing authority and within the limit of funds appropriated to it, enter into cooperative agreements with other city or town, state, regional, or federal agencies or private organizations to undertake studies deemed to be in the best interest of the locality, including cooperative agreements with cities or towns in neighboring states where problems of common interest are deemed to exist. The board or commission may be authorized to accept technical and financial assistance from other public agencies or private organizations, subject to the approval of the appointing authority.

(c) Within the limit of the funds appropriated to it, a planning board or commission may engage technical or clerical assistance to aid in the discharge of its duties. Where a city or town provides for the establishment of a planning department, responsible to the chief administrative officer or city or town council, the department may, in addition to its other duties, be assigned to provide technical assistance to the planning board or commission and to make studies and prepare plans and reports for the board or commission as provided in § 45-22-7.