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.
[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.