2023 -- H 5262
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LC000794
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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A N A C T
RELATING TO TOWNS AN D CITIES -- HISTORICAL AREA ZONING
Introduced By: Representatives Donovan, and Speakman
Date Introduced: January 27, 2023
Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 45-24.1-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-24.1 entitled "Historical 1
Area Zoning" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
45-24.1-3. Creation of commission authorized — Membership appointment — Term 3
of office. [Effective January 1, 2023.] 4
(a) In order to carry out the purposes of this chapter any city or town council shall have the 5
authority to create a commission called the historic district commission. The membership of a 6
commission in a city shall consist of seven (7) qualified members, and in a town shall consist of 7
not less than three (3) nor more than seven (7) qualified members, whose residence is located in 8
the city or town; and provided, that the historic district commission of the city of Providence shall 9
consist of eleven (11) qualified members, two (2) of whom shall be members of the city council 10
elected by the city council from its councilmanic members to serve for a term of four (4) years. In 11
a city the members shall be appointed by the mayor, except as provided in the case of the historic 12
district commission of the city of Providence, and in a town, by the president of the town council. 13
Members of an historic district commission shall be residents of the city or town. 14
(b) The appointed members of the commission shall be appointed for three-year (3) terms, 15
except the initial appointments of some of the members shall be for less than three (3) years so that 16
the initial appointments are staggered and so that subsequent appointments do not reoccur at the 17
same time. 18
(c) Any city or town has the right to name an auxiliary member of the commission 19
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appointed in addition to the regular members of the commission; provided, that the city of Newport 1
and the town of Bristol shall have the right to appoint two (2) auxiliary members to its historic 2
district commission. An auxiliary member shall sit as an active member, upon the request of the 3
chair, when and if a regular member of the commission is unable to serve at any meeting of the 4
commission. 5
(d) Appointed members of the commission are eligible for reappointment, and, upon the 6
expiration of their term, shall continue to serve until replaced unless otherwise provided for in local 7
law. 8
(e) In the event of a vacancy on the commission, interim appointments of appointed 9
members may be made by the appointing authority to complete the unexpired term of the position. 10
(f) Organized and existing preservation societies may present to the appointing authority 11
of a city or town a list of qualified citizens, from which list the appointing authority may select 12
members of the commission for his or her respective city or town. 13
(g) Members of a commission shall serve without compensation. 14
(h) Members of a commission shall be required to participate in continuing education 15
courses promulgated pursuant to chapter 70 of this title. 16
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 17
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO TOWNS AN D CITIES -- HISTORICAL AREA ZONING
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This act would allow the town of Bristol to appoint a second auxiliary member to its 1
historical district commission. 2
This act would take effect upon passage. 3
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LC000794
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