[Adopted 10-26-2020 by Ch. No. 1996]
There is hereby created a Veterans Rolls of Honor Memorial Committee, created pursuant to § 30-28-8 of the Rhode Island General Laws, the purpose of which is to prepare rolls of honor containing the names of persons who are in the service of the United States during the period of any war in which the country is participating, and to appoint a Committee to be known as the "Veterans Rolls of Honor Memorial Committee," whose duty it shall be to prepare and post the rolls of honor, and to monitor the care and condition of any public veterans memorials and monuments. The Committee may coordinate with private owners of veterans memorials and monuments, as approved by the Town Manager.
[Amended 7-25-2022 by Ch. No. 2027]
The Committee shall consist of five voting members. The membership terms shall be staggered so that appointments are made every other year. Initial appointments shall be as follows: one member shall be appointed for a one-year term, two members shall be appointed for a three-year term, and two members shall be appointed for a five-year term; thereafter, all members appointed will serve for a term of five years. The Town Council shall appoint two alternate members to the Veterans Rolls of Honor Memorial Committee, to be designated as the first and second alternate members, each to hold office for the term of five years; provided, however, that the initial appointments shall be made for terms of four and five years, respectively, and shall occur upon passage of this section. Thereafter, as terms expire, appointments shall be made for terms of five years. The alternate members shall sit as active members of the Committee when and if a member of the Committee is unable to serve at a meeting and shall have the same voting rights, powers and duties of the absent member. The first alternate member shall vote if one member of the Committee is unable to serve at a meeting, and the second shall vote if two members of the Committee are unable to serve at a meeting. In the absence of the first alternate member, the second alternate member shall serve in the position of the first alternate. In the event of a vacancy, the Town Council shall appoint a member for the unexpired term. All members shall be eligible for reappointment. A Town Council Veterans Liaison shall serve as an additional nonvoting member of the Committee.
A. 
All Committee members shall be Westerly residents and as a minimum, the majority membership shall be veterans of the U.S. uniformed military. The Town Manager shall provide the Committee with administrative and other assistance, as needed.
B. 
All appointed members of the Committee before entering upon their duties shall take an oath to administer the duties of their office faithfully and impartially.
[Amended 6-19-2023 by Ch. No. 2038]
The Committee shall have the authority to appoint its own officers for the governing of the Committee and to keep records of its proceedings. The Committee shall elect, at a minimum, one of its members as Chairperson and may assign another as Secretary or minute taker, who may or may not be a member of the Committee and may be provided by the Town. Elections shall occur every two years at a minimum. Three members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and the vote of three members shall be necessary for any action taken by the Committee. No vacancy in the membership of the Committee shall impair the right of a quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the Committee. All Committee members shall serve without compensation, except for their actual expenses, which are subject to approval by the Town Manager.
[Amended 6-19-2023 by Ch. No. 2038]
The Committee, in collaboration with the Town Manager's Office and other departments and officials of the Town, as needed, shall prepare and post the rolls of honor, which shall be posted in conspicuous places within the Town and shall be revised at frequent intervals. Permanent rolls of honor are currently in the form of bronze plaques affixed to the War Memorial located at the corner of Wilcox Park and the three-way intersection of Broad Street, Grove Avenue, and Granite Street. The Committee shall coordinate with the Park Superintendent prior to taking action at the memorial site. Joint care of the site is encouraged, provided coordination is done through the Park Superintendent to ensure proper techniques are used and historical integrity is maintained. (Exception: The flags flown at the site may be replaced at any time without prior coordination.) Other types, means, and locations for rolls of honor may be developed, such as, but not limited to, websites and/or printed or electronic media. The Committee is empowered to discuss all matters affecting the rolls of honor with any organization or person; provided, however, the Committee shall not have the authority to obligate the Town in any manner, financially or otherwise, unless authorized by the Town Manager and/or Town Council. The Committee shall submit all purchase requests and invoices to the Town Manager. The Committee may accept donations or seek fund-raising efforts after approval from the Town Manager and coordination with the Finance Department when necessary. New types, means, or locations for rolls of honor shall be coordinated with the Town Manager to ensure the availability of any necessary funding, upkeep, or other assistance.