A.
The Council shall consist of five (5) members, elected at large in the manner provided in § C-19B of this Charter to serve for terms of two (2) years and thereafter until their successors are elected and qualified.
B.
The names shall be printed in accordance with Rhode
Island Election Law and the Secretary of State's lottery.
[Amended 11-4-2008]
C.
The five (5) candidates receiving the largest number
of votes shall be elected.
A.
Members of the Council shall be qualified electors of the Town of Charlestown and shall hold no other paid public office or employment in the service of the town, pursuant to the Rhode Island State Law, Title 17, Chapter 1 - 5.1. No member of the Council shall be eligible to hold any other paid local town office for a period of one (1) year following his/her term on the Council. A member of the Council may hold elective town office immediately succeeding his/her term on the Council.
[Amended 11-5-1996]
B.
No member of the Council shall vote on any proposition
through which the member, directly or indirectly, could financially
benefit.
[Amended 11-5-1996; 11-4-2008; 11-6-2012]
At its organization meeting, upon the election
of a new Council, the Council shall elect one (1) of its members as
a Council President and one (1) as Vice-President. The candidate receiving
the most votes in the Town election shall have the right of first
refusal to be the Council President. Should that candidate choose
not to accept the Council Presidency, then the candidate receiving
the second highest vote total in the Town Council election shall have
the right of first refusal to be the Council President and so on for
all Council members until one Council member accepts the position
of Council President. Of the remaining Council members once the position
of Council President has been determined, the right of first refusal
shall likewise apply to the position of Vice President based on the
highest vote total in descending order until one member of the Council
accepts the position of Council Vice President.
Upon the anniversary date of the initial organization
meeting, or the Council meeting nearest to it, the Council members
may reorganize for the remaining year of office.
[Amended 11-5-1996; 11-2-2010]
Each member of the Council shall receive such
individual compensation for the performance of his/her duties or for
the expenses of his/her office as may be fixed from time to time by
the annual Financial Referendum.
Any vacancies in the membership of the Council
may, at the discretion of the Council, be filled for the unexpired
term, except that if the vacancy in the Council shall occur more than
one (1) year prior to the time for holding an election, the Council
shall, within thirty (30) days after the vacancy occurs, call a special
election for the purpose of filling the vacancy.
Except for the purpose of inquiries and investigations,
the Council or its members shall communicate with town officers and
employees who are subject to the direction and supervision of the
Administrator solely through the Administrator, and neither the Council
nor its members shall give orders to any such officer or employee,
whether publicly or privately.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § C-26, Temporary
officers prior to Administrator's appointment, was repealed 11-5-1996.
