Rhode Island General Laws Title 45. Towns and Cities § 45-23-56. Administration--Technical review committee

(a) The municipality may establish a technical review committee(s) of not fewer than three (3) members, to conduct technical reviews of applications subject to their jurisdiction. The administrative officer shall serve as chairperson. Membership of this committee, to be known as the technical review committee, or design review committee, may include, but is not limited to, members of the planning board, planning department staff, other municipal staff representing departments with responsibility for review or enforcement, conservation commissioners, public members, or other duly appointed local public commission members.

(b) If a municipality establishes a technical review committee or committees, the planning board shall adopt written procedures establishing the committee's responsibilities.

(c) The technical review committee(s) has the authority to issue approvals, make findings, and provide recommendations as specifically set forth in this chapter.

(d) Reports of the technical review committee to the planning board shall be in writing and kept as part of the permanent documentation on the development application. In no case shall the recommendations of the technical review committee be binding on the planning board in its activities or decisions. All reports of the technical review committee shall be made available to the applicant prior to the meeting of the planning board at which the reports are first considered.