[Adopted 8-13-1991 by Ch. No. 983 as §§ 9-31 through 9-35 of the 1991 Code]
[Amended 10-24-2011 by Ch. No. 1758]
There is created a Board of Recreation to establish, construct, equip, control public playgrounds, athletic fields, and other community recreation centers, and to conduct and promote recreation, play, sport and physical training, for which admission or other fees may be charged. In addition, the Board of Recreation shall work with the Neighbor Day Committee to coordinate activities for Neighbor Day events initiated by said Committee pursuant to § 5-47.
[Amended 6-8-2009 by Ch. No. 1680; 9-28-2009 by Ch. No. 1688; 3-10-2014 by Ch. No. 1808]
A. 
The Board of Recreation shall consist of seven members who shall be appointed by the Town Council for five-year terms. The Town Council President shall be an ex officio member of the Board.
B. 
Members of the Board of Recreation, at the time of their appointment and for the duration of their term, shall be residents and qualified to vote in the Town of Westerly.
C. 
There shall be one auxiliary member of the Board of Recreation who shall be appointed by the Town Council for a two-year term, to be appointed in April of each even year, except for the initial appointment, which shall occur upon passage of this section, for a term to expire the first even year following passage. The auxiliary member shall sit as an active member of the Board when and if a member of the Board is unable to serve at a meeting or hearing, and shall have the same voting rights, powers and duties of the absent member. The Town Council shall fill any unexpired term of an auxiliary member whose place has become vacant.
[Amended 9-28-2009 by Ch. No. 1688]
Upon expiration of the original seven-year terms of the members of the Board of Recreation, each succeeding appointment shall be made for the term of five years as provided in § 5-5. The ex-officio member shall hold office while he/she is President of the Town Council. Any vacancy that shall arise in the membership of the Board of Recreation shall be filled by the Town Council by appointing a successor to serve for the unexpired term for the member whom he succeeds.
The Board of Recreation shall have all the powers vested in it by RIGL 32-3-3 and 32-3-4, and in addition, it shall have all other powers given to it by any statute or law that may be passed in the future.
A. 
The Board of Recreation is hereby permitted and authorized to rent or lease space for public advertising within any or all property used and maintained as public playgrounds and athletic fields.
B. 
Any and all rents, income or monies received by the Board of Recreation for the purposes stated herein shall be deposited in a Field Maintenance Fund administered by the Recreation Board and the Town Manager.
C. 
An annual report shall be submitted by the Board of Recreation to the Town Council and Director of Finance by February 1 of each year, which report shall include an accounting of all rents, receipts or monies received by the same and for any and all distributions and expenses made and incurred by the Board.
[Added 10-20-2008 by Ch. No. 1658]
In addition to the other functions and powers contained in this article, the Board of Recreation shall oversee all of the Town Beach and recreational property within the Misquamicut Fire District in an advisory capacity to the Town Council and the Town Manager. In carrying out its role, the Board shall work with the Town Manager and the Recreation Director in all aspects of the management, maintenance, programming and regulating of the Town Beach and other properties, including developing recommendations for staffing requirements and developing rules and regulations for public use and access to the properties. It shall assist in the oversight of the beach-wide coordinated lifeguard efforts, develop recommendations for the development of the annual beach budget and generally oversee any and all tasks necessary for the safe, efficient and smooth operation of the Town Beach facilities in an advisory capacity. The Board shall have no role in the management or supervision of the Recreation Director or other paid Town staff, who will continue to be under the direct supervision of the Town Manager and his/her subordinates.
[Added 10-20-2008 by Ch. No. 1658]
There shall be a member of the Town Council, designated by the Council President, to serve in the role of Council Liaison to the Board of Recreation. This Council member shall also have the designation of Beach Commissioner, which is an honorary title and one which recognizes his/her role as an advocate for recreational and beach matters to the Town Council. This Council member shall serve in this capacity during his/her tenure on the Town Council and so long as he/she retains that designation by the Town Council President. The Council Liaison/Beach Commissioner's role shall be limited to serving as a Council Liaison to the Board of Recreation as it carries out its responsibilities with respect to the Town Beach facilities and other Town recreational facilities and programs.