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.
A. 
Any person holding elective or appointive office in the Town, or member of any Town board or commission, who is indicted for any offense which is a felony under Federal or State law, while holding any such office, shall be deemed to have been suspended from his or her office and shall cease to exercise the powers or perform the duties thereof, until completion of all legal procedures resulting from that indictment. No suspension from office under the provisions of this Section shall be deemed to have created a vacancy in such office. In the event that one or more suspensions makes it impossible for the duties of an office to be carried on, or deprives the School Committee or any Town board or commission of a quorum to transact business, the Council shall make temporary appointment(s) for the conduct of the office or the restoration of a quorum for the period of the suspension. In the event that the suspension of Council members deprives the Council of a quorum, the Town Clerk shall forthwith schedule a special election to fill the positions of the suspended Council members with interim Council members, who shall serve until the suspensions end or the terms of the suspended members shall have expired.
B. 
Any elector shall be disqualified as a candidate for elective or appointive office in the Town, or from holding such office, if such elector has been convicted of or plead nolo contendere to a felony or if such elector has been convicted of or plead nolo contendere to a misdemeanor resulting in a jail sentence of six months or more, either suspended or to be served. Such elector shall not, once so convicted, attain or return to any office until three years after the date of completion of such sentence and of probation or parole.
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.