Sec. 2-37. - Appointment of members to boards and commissions.

(a)

Members of boards and commissions shall be appointed based on merit. All vacancies or upcoming appointments or reappointments to city boards and commissions shall be posted for a minimum of ten business days on the city website prior to an appointment being made. The posting shall include the name of the board, the appointing authority, the powers and duties of the board, the length of term, and the date that the application period closes. Only city residents may be eligible to serve on city boards and commissions unless otherwise provided for in the Charter, ordinances of East Providence, or state law.

(b)

Any individual seeking an appointment to a city board or commission shall submit an application as promulgated by the city clerk. The application may be obtained and submitted at the clerk's office, or online on the city's website. No other application, letter, or form shall be accepted as a substitute for the application. Once the city clerk has received a complete and submitted application, the clerk shall then give a copy of the application(s) to the appointing or recommending authority within three days of the close of the application period.

(c)

No appointing or recommending authority shall appoint, recommend or vote on a household member or family member for membership to a board or commission. Household member and family member shall be defined as in Regulation 36-14-5004 of the Rhode Island Code of Ethics.

(d)

No person shall serve on more than one city board or commission with decision making authority. Anyone presently serving on more than one board or commission with decision making authority may continue to serve their term but are not eligible for re-appointment if such re-appointment shall cause them to be in violation of this section or except as stated in section (e).

(e)

The prohibition against serving on more than one board or commission with decision making authority shall not apply if a vacancy has occurred for more than ten business days after posting by the city clerk in accordance with section (a) above or when there has been no other eligible application received. The limit of service on more than one board and commission shall not extend to boards and commissions in which the person's service was at the appointment of another board or commission to which they are to serve as a liaison, ex-officio or ad-hoc member. There shall be no limit to service on advisory boards or commissions.

(f)

By November 1 every year, each member of all city boards and commissions must provide one form of government issued photo identification to the chairperson of their board as proof of their residency. The chairperson of each city board and commission shall confirm the address/residence of the members of their board to the city clerk.

(g)

All appointments to boards and commissions within the city shall be made by resolution by the appointing authority. The resolution shall state the appointee's full name, address, and term of appointment.

(Ch. 694, § III, 1-16-18; Ch. 736, § I, 4-16-19)