This chapter is enacted by virtue of the powers conferred upon the Council
by the twenty-eighth article of amendments to the Constitution of the state,
empowering the legislative body of any city or Town to provide a method for
the nomination and election of a Commission to frame a Charter.
This chapter shall constitute a continuing ordinance of the Town of
a substantive character in order to guarantee to the people the powers, rights
and privileges vested in and conferred upon them by the Constitution.
The purpose of this chapter is to give effect to the home rule provisions
of the Constitution by providing a procedure for the adoption of home rule
by the people of the Town.
The Town Council of the Town of Westerly is hereby authorized to appoint
an Advisory Charter Revision Commission at any time that the said Town Council
of the Town of Westerly deems appropriate.
A.
The Advisory Charter Revision Commission shall consist
of nine members to be appointed by the Town Council on a nonpartisan basis.
Each member shall be a resident of the Town of Westerly, and no member shall
be an elected official of the Town. Each member shall be appointed for a term
to be designated by the Town Council, for a period not to exceed five months.
Members of this Commission shall serve without compensation. In addition to
the members appointed by the Town Council, the President of the Town Council
and the Town Solicitor shall be ex officio members of this Commission and
shall be allowed to participate in discussion and recommendations, but shall
not be allowed to participate in any vote.
B.
The Town Council, in appointing such said Charter Review
Commission, shall designate the area or areas to be studied by said Advisory
Charter Revision Commission. Said Advisory Charter Revision Commission shall
issue its report at the end of the period so designated by the Town Council,
in writing, to the then sitting Town Council.
C.
The appointment of the Advisory Charter Revision Commission
shall be by majority vote of the Town Council of the Town of Westerly on its
own initiative, or the said Town Council of the Town of Westerly shall appoint
an Advisory Charter Revision Commission for a period not to exceed four months
to study such questions as may be presented by a petition to appoint an Advisory
Charter Revision Commission, duly signed by 400 qualified electors of the
Town of Westerly, Rhode Island. Said petition, so signed by 400 qualified
electors of the Town of Westerly shall state the area or areas to be reviewed
by the Advisory Charter Revision Commission, the term of said Commission and
upon appointment by the Town Council, said Advisory Charter Revision Commission
shall submit its report in writing within the period specified by the Town
Council of the Town of Westerly, not to exceed four months.
A.
The Advisory Charter Revision Commission shall elect
a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson and a Secretary from its membership. It
shall be the duty of the Chairperson to preside over and conduct all meetings,
and in the absence of the Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson is to have this
responsibility. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to take minutes of each
meeting, and to be in charge of all correspondence and records of this Commission.
B.
The Commission, upon formation, shall publish a list
of regularly scheduled meetings. Special meetings shall be held at the call
of the Chairperson or upon the request of five members of the Commission.
C.
The Commission shall adopt further rules, regulations
and procedures for the transaction of business, conduct of meetings and anything
else that maybe necessary.
A.
The Advisory Charter Revision Commission shall review
the operation of all areas of Town government as are incorporated in the Home
Rule Charter, and any amendments thereto, and from time to time, when deemed
necessary, make recommendations for the amendment of the same.
B.
To this extent, this Commission shall have the authority
to call upon all departments, boards and committees of the Town and upon state
and federal agencies for assistance in the performance of its designated function;
and all Town officials, boards and committees shall furnish to this Commission
such information as it may require for its work.
The Advisory Charter Revision Commission shall submit a written report
to the Town Council as directed by the Council from time to time.
Sections A262-4 through A264-8 shall not be construed to prevent any other method of amendment to the Home Rule Charter as authorized by law.
