There shall be a Planning Board for the Town made up of nine (9) members appointed by the Town Council each to serve for a term of four (4) years or until his or her successor is appointed. All members shall be qualified electors of the Town. The terms of the members of the Board shall be so arranged that the terms of no more than one-third shall expire each year. The Council shall, during the months of January of each year, make appointments to fill prospective vacancies. The terms of members shall expire on the last day of January, and of newly appointed members shall begin on the first day of February. Vacancies on the Board shall be filled by the Council for the unexpired term.
A. 
The Board shall advise the Council on all matters concerning the growth and development of the Town and the effects thereof on the health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants. The Board shall have the duties and responsibilities provided by State law for such Boards, and in particular those conferred on Planning Boards under the Rhode Island Comprehensive Planning and Land Use Regulation Act and related legislation as amended from time to time.
B. 
The Board shall play such role in long range capital planning and the preparation of the Town capital budget as the Council may direct; shall submit recommendations on all matters referred to it relating to the Town zoning ordinance, land subdivision and proposals for development in the Town as requested by the Council; shall after consulting with the Town Council, convene meetings of selected Town officials, departments and agencies and community groups for the purpose of facilitating unified Town policies related to land use for recreation, conservation and open space; and shall conduct such studies and other activities related to its general area of responsibility as the Council may direct.
[Reso. 7/20/00; approved at election 11/7/00]
There shall be a Zoning Board of Review of five (5) members appointed by the Town Council each to hold office for a term of five (5) years with their terms so arranged that the term of one member shall expire and one appointment be made each year. The Council shall determine when appointments are to be made and the date upon which terms shall expire. The Board shall also include three (3) alternates to be designated as the first, second and third alternate members each to be appointed by the Council for a term of five (5) years in such manner that their terms shall not both expire in the same year. These alternate members shall sit and may actively participate in hearings. The first alternate shall vote if one member of the Board is unable to serve at a hearing, and the second shall vote if two members of the Board are unable to serve at a hearing and the third alternate shall vote if three members of the Board are unable to serve at a hearing. In the absence of any alternate member the next alternate shall serve in that position by rank, i.e. second taking place of first, etc. No member or alternate may vote on any matter before the Board unless they have attended all hearings concerning that matter. The Council shall fill vacancies on the Board for the unexpired term, and may remove members for due cause. The Board shall have all the powers and duties now or hereafter vested by law in Zoning Boards of Review.
[Approved at election 11/4/14]
There shall be a Conservation Commission for the Town consisting of five (5) members, four (4) appointed by the Town Council for three year terms, with said terms so arranged that the term of one member shall expire in one year, the term of the second in the second year, and the terms of the third and fourth members in the third year. Duly incorporated and existing wildlife, conservation, sportsmen's, horticultural, or like organizations may present to the appointing authority a list of qualified citizens from which lists the appointing authority may select the four Commission members. Terms of members shall end on the last day of January. The Commission shall also include ex officio the chairperson of the Little Compton Agricultural Conservancy Trust or his or her member designee.
A. 
The purpose of the Commission shall be to promote and develop the natural resources, to protect the watershed resources, and to preserve the natural esthetic areas within the Town. To these ends the Commission shall conduct researches into its local land areas and seek to coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized for similar purposes, and shall keep an index of all open spaces within the Town, publicly or privately owned. It may recommend to the Council and other Town bodies a program for the better use of the Town's land and natural resources.
B. 
The Commission shall provide at least annually a report on the conservation and open space priorities of the Town and recommend such changes as it feels appropriate in writing to the Council.
There shall be a Beach Commission of five (5) members elected at the Financial Town Meeting for terms of four (4) years, with the terms so arranged that three shall expire and the election of three members shall take place in one year, and two shall expire and the election of two members shall take place two years thereafter.
A. 
The Commission shall have the authority to manage, regulate and control all public beaches owned by the Town. Any acquisition of beach property by the Town or sale or lease thereof, or any granting of an easement or right of way over any such property, shall, exclusive of acquisitions by the Little Compton Agricultural Conservancy Trust as hereinafter set forth, require consultation with the Beach Commission and approval by the Town Meeting. The Town Council shall have the power to enact such ordinances as the Commission shall request or as the Council may deem necessary for the policing of said public beaches, in aid of the management, maintenance and improvement of the same, and for the regulation of all travel by the public to, from and over such beaches, and to prescribe penalties for violation of such ordinances.
B. 
The Commission shall have the authority to make suitable provisions for the care, management, maintenance, protection and improvement of the beaches under its control, and for the safety of the persons using them, and to cause to be erected, repaired or replaced such bathhouses, fences and other buildings and structures as it may deem necessary for the convenience and well-being of the public or as may be required by State law or regulations.
C. 
The Commission shall have the authority to charge reasonable fees for admission, parking of vehicles, and the use of facilities for defraying the costs of maintenance and operation, provided however, that it may exempt residents of the Town from such fees. All moneys received from such fees shall be deposited in the General Fund by the Town Treasurer, and shall be appropriated therefrom to the Commission at the discretion of the Financial Town Meeting, and expended by and under the direction of the Commission. The accounts of the Commission shall be audited at the time of the annual audit of Town accounts.
[Reso. 7/20/00; approved at election 11/7/00]
There is established pursuant to Chapter 16 of the Public Laws of 1985 The Little Compton Agricultural Conservancy Trust for the purpose of acquiring development rights to agricultural property within the Town, the acquisition of agricultural property or interest therein, to preserve open spaces, fresh and saltwater marshes, estuaries and adjoining uplands, groundwater recharging areas, land providing access to the ocean, land for bicycle paths and land for future public recreational facilities and use.
A. 
The Trust shall be administered by seven (7) trustees, five (5) of whom shall be appointed by the Town Council with at least one being an active farmer, to serve for five (5) year staggered terms, with their terms so arranged that one shall expire, and one appointment be made each year. Vacancies among the trustees shall be filled by the Council for the unexpired term. The sixth and seventh Trustees shall be the current chairpersons of the Town Conservation Commission and Planning Board or their member designees.
B. 
The powers, responsibilities and procedures to be exercised and implemented by the Trust are as the same as set forth in Chapter 16 of the Public laws cited above.
There shall be a Pension Committee whose responsibility it shall be to administer the pension plan for Town officials and employees as the same is authorized by Chapter 84 of the Public Laws of 1971 and as it may be amended, and subject to such ordinances and/or votes of the Town Meeting as may have been or may be enacted setting forth the provisions and operation of the pension plan. The Committee shall be made up of three members appointed by the Town Council and one Council Member designated by the Council, each to serve for a term of one year, and one member chosen by each of the following: the union representing Town policemen, the union representing Town firefighters, and the other Town employees, to serve at the pleasure of the appointing organization, for a total of seven (7) members.
[Reso. 7/11/02; approved at election 11/5/02; approved at election 11/4/14]
There shall be a Harbor Commission consisting of seven (7) members appointed by the Town Council for three (3) year staggered terms with their terms so arranged that the terms of two members will expire in one year, the terms of two more members in the next year, and the terms of three members in the third year. The appointees shall be selected by the Council so that one is the owner of a recreational boat kept on a mooring, or one who is on a waiting list for a mooring; one joint representative of the Sakonnet Point Marina Association, Inc. and the Sakonnet Point Club; one represents the Sakonnet Yacht Club; one is a commercial trip fisherman; one is a commercial day fisherman; one officer of the local fishermen's association; and one is a member of a Town conservation organization. Vacancies shall be filled in accordance with the initial appointment to the vacant position for the unexpired term. It shall be the responsibility of the Commission to make recommendations to the Council concerning the appointment of the Harbor Master and Assistant Harbor Master(s), the rules and regulations regarding the assignment and use of moorings, the use of Town docks and facilities, other rules and regulations governing the use of the harbor including but not limited to the setting of fees and penalties, the preparation and revision of the harbor plan, and such other functions as may be assigned to it by the Council.
The Little Compton Free Public Library shall be governed by a Board consisting of five (5) Trustees appointed by the Town Council for terms of three (3) years, with their terms so arranged that the terms of no more than two Trustees shall expire in any one year. All terms shall expire on October 15th; the Council shall fill any vacancy for the unexpired term.
[Approved at election 11/4/14 [1]]
There shall be a Recreation Committee of seven (7) members four (4) of whom shall be appointed by the Town Council for staggered three (3) year terms, with the terms so arranged that one expires each year. The Committee shall also include ex officio the chairperson of each of the following Town bodies or his or her member designee: Planning Board, Beach Commission, and School Committee. It shall be the responsibility of the Committee to update, maintain and implement the Town's plan for the interrelated development of recreation areas. The Committee shall also have responsibility for the scheduling and the conduct of appropriate activities in the Auditorium-Gymnasium of the School during the periods of time when the facility is not being used for school purposes.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Recreation Committee replaced the Auditorium-Gymnasium Committee as approved at election 11/4/14.
[Reso. 7/6/06; approved at election 11/7/06; Reso. 7/21/16; approved at election of 11/8/16;[1] approved at election 11/8/2022]
There shall be a Little Compton Housing Trust, authorized by ordinance of the Town Council and organized as a non-profit corporation, the purpose of which is to serve as an advocacy group for any person or group desiring to address the problem of housing affordability or housing for the elderly, those with special needs and families of low and moderate income. It shall oversee the implementation of the Affordable Housing Plan of the community. With the approval of the Town Council, The Little Compton Housing Trust shall not be subject to the provisions of Section 103 of the Charter.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Section 710, Recreation, Conservation and Open Space Committee was deleted in entirety by Reso. 7/21/16 which was approved at election of November 8, 2016.