There is hereby established the Smithfield Water Supply Board
Advisory Commission with the duties and purposes set forth in this
chapter.
The Smithfield Water Supply Board Advisory Commission shall
consist of five members, appointed by the Town Council from among
the residents of the Town, each to serve a term of three years, except
that the terms shall be arranged so that the term of at least one
member shall expire each year. Each member shall possess knowledge
or experience in the field of public water supply to the satisfaction
of the Town Council. In the event that a Commission member shall have
missed three consecutive meetings without consent of the Commission
Chair, then his or her membership shall expire forthwith. In the event
of a vacancy on the Commission for any reason, the Town Council shall
make an interim appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term.
Members shall be eligible for appointment. In addition to the five
members appointed by the Town Council, the Town Manager and Water
Supply Board Superintendent shall serve in nonvoting, ex officio capacities
on the Smithfield Water Supply Board Advisory Commission.
The Commission shall meet at least monthly and shall organize
annually electing from its voting members a Chair, Vice Chair and
Secretary. The Commission may adopt any rules of procedure deemed
necessary for the proper discharge of its duties. Meetings of the
Commission shall be conducted in accordance with the Rhode Island
Open Meetings Act.
Three voting members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum,
and no vacancy in the membership shall impair the right of a quorum
to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the Commission.
The general duties and purposes of the Smithfield Water Supply
Board Advisory Commission are as follows:
A. Study and report on the present and future operations of the Water
Department;
B. Study and report on present and future water rates, including the
tier system and an infrastructure charge;
C. Study and report on the current and future infrastructure needs of
the Water Department, including any bonding which may be required;
D. Study and report on potential additional sources of water, including
possible interconnections with Lincoln and North Smithfield;
E. Study and report on the possible pipe swap with the Providence Water
Supply Board at the Longview Pump Station and the possible transfer
of North Providence customers to Providence Water;
F. Study and report on the Woodcock study and the possible merger with
the Greenville Water District;
G. Study and report on possible revisions and updates to the Smithfield
Water Supply Board rules and regulations;
H. Study and consult with Water Board engineers and report on possible
infrastructure needs for the EGO zone; and
I. Perform any other water- related functions assigned to the Commission
by the Town Council.
The Commission shall be advisory in nature. Commission members
shall serve without compensation. The Town Manager shall provide the
Commission with such clerical and administrative assistance as may
be necessary to carry out its duties hereunder.
The Smithfield Water Supply Board Advisory Commission may be
dissolved at any time by majority vote at the Town Council.