The public shall be entitled to access to all records and proceedings of all agencies of the Town government of Little Compton, including but not limited to those of the Town Council, all boards and commissions, departments and offices, as the same are defined and set forth in State law pertaining to open records. The types of records to which the public is entitled to access, and the times, places and conditions under which such access shall be made available shall be as provided in said Title 38, Chapter
2 of the General Laws as the same may be amended from time to time.
The public has a right to have the public business performed
in an open and public manner and to be advised of and aware of the
performance of public officials and the deliberations and decisions
that go into the making of public policy. To these ends the Town Council,
the School Committee and all Town departments, agencies, commissions,
committees, boards and councils, and all subdivisions thereof, shall
conduct all business in accordance with the provisions of the open
meetings legislation of the State, Title 42, Chapter 46 of the General
Laws, and as the same may be amended from time to time. Pursuant to
said legislation the public shall have the right to attend all meetings
of such Town public bodies, subject only to the limitations specifically
allowed by law.
All public officials and employees of the Town of Little Compton must adhere to the highest standards of ethical conduct, respect the public trust and the rights of all persons, be open, accountable, and responsive, avoid the appearance of impropriety, and not use their position for private gain or advantage. Accordingly all elected and appointed officials of the Town, and all Town employees, shall be subject to and comply with the Code of Ethics legislation of the State as set forth in Title 36, Chapter
14 of the General Laws, and all rules, regulations and opinions promulgated by the Rhode Island Ethics Commission from time to time.
[Reso. 7/20/00; approved at election 11/7/00]
The Town Council may propose amendments to this Charter at any
time, to be put to referendum of the electors of the Town at a general
or special election pursuant to the provisions in Article XIII of
the Constitution of the State. Any such amendment or amendments in
full text shall be published by the Town Clerk no less than thirty
(30) days prior to the date of the referendum, and the Council shall
schedule a public hearing thereon no less than ten (10) days prior
such date. Notice of any such hearing or hearings shall be given no
less than one week prior to the date they are scheduled to be held.
A. The Council shall appoint a Charter Review Commission of seven (7)
members, during the month of January in the year 2001, and every four
(4) years thereafter, whose members shall serve for a term of two
(2) years, and whose duty it shall be to review the Charter and recommend
to the Council any amendments or revisions which it feels the Council
should consider for presentation to the electors of the Town. Any
vacancy occurring on the Commission shall be filled immediately by
the Town Council. Subject to Sections 502 and 503 of the Home Rule
Charter the Charter Review Commission shall be provided an appropriation
for its expenses as shall be fixed by the Financial Town Meeting.
The powers of the Town under this Charter shall be construed
liberally in favor of the Town. If any article, section or provision
of this Charter shall be held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction,
the remainder thereof shall not be affected thereby.
All appointments to Town boards and commissions shall be made
from among persons who are electors and residents of the Town, and
all such appointees shall remain electors and residents throughout
their terms of service in the positions to which they were appointed.
Appointments to Town offices may be made from among persons who are
not at the time electors and residents of the Town, but any person
so appointed while a non-resident shall within a reasonable time following
appointment become an elector and resident of the Town, provided however,
that the Council by an affirmative vote of four (4) of its members
may grant an exception to this residence requirement to a particular
appointee on the ground that no appropriately qualified Town resident
could be found for such appointment, and the residence requirement
would work a special hardship on the person appointed. Any vacancy
on a board or commission shall be filled by the Council for the balance
of the unexpired term.
When in this Charter the Town Clerk or other official is required
to publish the text of a proposal, document or public notice, publication
shall mean to cause the same to be printed in a newspaper of general
circulation in the Town, to post it in the Clerk's office and in two
other prominent places in the Town, and to have copies available for
distribution to interested citizens.