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Sec. 601. - Council Appointments.#
(a)
As to any town official appointed pursuant to the provisions of this Article or Article VIII, the Town Council shall appoint the best qualified candidate to such position or to fill any vacancy in such position consistent with the provisions of Section 705 of this Charter. In the event of a vacancy in one of the elective offices provided for in this Article, the Council shall fill such vacancy with a qualified elector of the Town for the balance of the unexpired term, except that Town Council vacancies shall be filled in accordance with Section 406 of this Charter.
(b)
A minimum of three (3) affirmative votes of the Town Council shall be required for the appointment or removal of any Town official appointed pursuant to this Article VI.
(c)
The appointment of the Town Solicitor and the appointment of the Probate Judge of the Town shall not be subject to the provisions of this Section.
Sec. 602. - Town Clerk.#
(a)
There shall be a Town Clerk, who shall be elected at the general election every four years beginning in November of 2022, to serve for a term of four years and until his or her successor is elected and qualified. The Town Clerk shall have all the duties and responsibilities of Town Clerks as provided by state law, shall be the Clerk of the Council and of the Probate Court, and shall have such other duties and responsibilities as may be prescribed by the Council not in conflict with state law. The Town Clerk shall have the authority to employ a deputy Town Clerk with the approval of the Council, and such deputy Town Clerk shall in the absence or inability of the Town Clerk, discharge all of the duties and responsibilities of that office.
(b)
The Town Clerk shall have responsibility for the Town Hall facility and any other facilities in which Town offices may be located, for the establishment and maintenance of a central records system for Town offices, departments, boards and commissions, and for ensuring that persons coming to the Town Hall receive the assistance, services, forms or access to public records to which they are entitled.
(Amd. of 11-08-22(2))
Sec. 603. - Town Treasurer.#
There shall be a Town Treasurer who shall be elected at the general election every four years beginning in November of 2022, to serve for a term of four years and until his or her successor is elected and qualified. The Town Treasurer shall have all the duties and responsibilities conferred upon town treasurers, and who shall give bond before assuming the duties of that office, as provided in State law. The office of the Town Treasurer shall have such personnel and equipment as provided for in the annual Town budgets. the Town Treasurer may appoint a Deputy Town Treasurer with the approval of the Council, whenever the appointment shall be necessary, and any such Deputy Treasurer shall, in the absence or inability of the Town Treasurer, have all the powers and responsibilities of the Town Treasurer, provided, however, that in no case shall the Deputy have the power to sign the bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness of the Town, except with the approval of the Council. The Deputy Town Treasurer shall also give bond before assuming the duties of the Town Treasurer in the event of such absence or inability.
Qualifications and conditions of employment for election and/or appointment to either the Town Treasurer or Deputy Town Treasurer are set forth in the job descriptions and qualifications for said positions as developed by the Town Council.
Duties and Responsibilities of the Town Treasurer: 1.
Direct, coordinate and supervise the financial activities for the Town including accounting, debt administration, payroll, tax collection, cash flow analysis, investments and general ledger review.
2.
Record all monies received and disbursed in the Town. Keep a itemize account of all moneys received and disbursed. Deposit as soon as practicable, the funds of the Town in the name of the Town. Manage the loans and bonds as authorized for Town purposes. Conduct banking transactions and reconciliations for Town accounts. Administer and monitor the Town's short and long terms investments. Maintain the Town investment policy.
3.
Process accounts payable and receivable. Audit receipts and disbursements. Reconcile accounting records and allocate payments to various accounts. Receive all purchase invoices, ensure their proper coding, record them in the computer system and prepare payments vouchers. Co-sign all checks. Maintain a system of control to ensure that expenditures do not exceed appropriations.
4.
Process payroll checks for distributions. Maintain and update payroll records. Prepare federal, state and deferred compensation reports and payments. Prepare monthly and annual Town reports.
5.
File quarterly and annual employment tax reports to the Federal and State. Prepare annual W2's and 1099's.
6.
Comply with mandates and processes as directed by the State of Rhode Island.
7.
Prepare monthly financial reports for the Town Council showing the current operational and capital budget. Provide the Town Council with monthly invoices and checks to be issued for payment. Provide the Town Council and department heads with timely and informative financial reports on a regular basis and as needed for review of current budget.
8.
Assist Town Council in preparing the Annual operational and capital budget. Update financial reporting and data systems with the approved budget amounts for the annual operational and capital budget.
9.
Prepare policies, procedures and systems necessary to ensure that effective controls are in place to protect the financial affairs of the Town.
10.
Complete the annual Audit. Works closely with the Town staff to obtain all information needed for the Town auditors. Provide assistance and advice to the auditors during the audit review. Complete reports as needed to meet the GASB 34 regulations.
11.
Maintain and monitor the Town's Capital Asset program. Prepare annual Capital Asset reports as required to meet the GASB 34 government - wide financial statements. Conduct yearly inventory on all Capital Assets.
12.
Retains all public records that are required by Rhode Island General Laws and/or Federal regulations.
13.
Attend Town Council meetings as requested.
(Amd. of 11-4-08; Amd. of 11-08-22(2))
Sec. 604. - Tax Collector.#
There shall be a Collector of Taxes who shall be appointed according to G.L. 1956, § 45-4-1, as amended. The Tax Collector shall have the duties and responsibilities pertaining to that office, and who shall give bond before assuming the duties of the office, as provided in State Law. The office of the Collector of Taxes shall have such personnel, equipment and facilities as may be authorized by the Council and for which provision is made in the annual town budgets.
Sec. 605. - Town Solicitor.#
There shall be [a] Town Solicitor who shall be appointed by the Council to serve at the pleasure of the Council. The Town Solicitor shall be an attorney at law in good standing who has been admitted to the bar in Rhode Island. The Council in its discretion may retain the services of a law firm to provide the legal services of Town Solicitor and may retain or authorize the retention of special counsel for the Town or for a board, commission, department or officer for extra or unusual services. The Town Solicitor shall be the legal advisor of, and attorney and counsel for, the Town and for all boards, commissions, departments and officers thereof.
Sec. 606. - Tax Assessor.#
There shall be a Tax Assessor, who shall be appointed by the Town Council. The Tax Assessor shall carry out all duties and discharge the responsibilities of Tax Assessor as set forth in state law. The salary of the Tax Assessor shall be established annually by the voters at the annual Financial Town Meeting at such amount deemed to be in the best interests of the Town.
(Res. of 11-7-00; Amd. of 11-2-10)
Sec. 607. - Town Sergeant.#
There shall be a Town Sergeant, who shall be elected at each general election for a two-year term and until his or her successor is elected and qualified, who shall have such powers and duties as are prescribed by law and such compensation as may be fixed by the Town Meeting.
Sec. 608. - Inspectors.#
(a)
The Council shall make provision for the conduct of all inspections which are required, or shall be required of Towns to make, including but not limited to building, electrical, plumbing and related inspections, minimum housing inspections, and the like, and shall appoint persons to conduct such inspections who are qualified by training, experience and license, where applicable, in the various professions and specialties involved. Where appropriate the same individual may be appointed with the responsibility of conducting two or more types of inspections.
(b)
Notwithstanding the foregoing provision, there shall be a zoning inspector who shall be elected at a general election for a two-year term, who shall be responsible for zoning inspections within the Town and have all other responsibilities of zoning inspectors as set forth in State law.
Sec. 609. - Probate Judge and Probate Court.#
There shall be a Probate Court for the Town with the powers and responsibilities prescribed by state law, and the Council shall appoint a judge for said Court from among attorneys at law licensed to practice in Rhode Island to serve for a term of two years and until his or her successor is appointed and qualified, said term to expire on the last day of January in odd-numbered years. In the absence or inability of the Probate Judge, the Town Solicitor shall act as Probate Judge; provided, however, that the Town Solicitor may be appointed to serve as Probate Judge.
Sec. 610. - Emergency management.#
There shall be an Emergency Management Agency in the Town headed by a Director of Emergency Management, who shall be appointed by the Town Council. The Exeter Emergency Management Agency shall have powers and responsibilities similar to those of the state disaster agency of the same name, as set forth in state law.
(Amd. of 11-7-06, § 3)
Sec. 611. - Director of Social Services.#
There shall be a Director of Social Services, who shall be appointed by the Town Council, and who shall have such duties and responsibilities as are assigned to such directors, including Directors of Public Welfare, under State law.
(Amend. of 11-8-16; Amd. of 11-08-22(3))
Sec. 612. - Personnel, Equipment and Facilities.#
The officers provided for in this Article VI shall have such personnel, equipment, and such facilities as shall be mutually agreed upon between such officer and the Town Council and as may be provided for in the annual Town budgets.
Sec. 613. - Town Administrator.#
There shall be a Town Administrator who shall be appointed by the Town Council in accordance with Section 601 of this Charter whenever the Town Council deems that such appointment shall be necessary. Funding for the Office of the Town Administrator shall be as approved at the annual financial meeting. Qualifications and conditions of employment for appointment to the Town Administrator position shall be set forth in job descriptions and qualifications for said position as shall be approved by the Town Council. The Town Administrator shall be responsible for the day-to-day management, administration and operation of the Town and shall assume such other duties as may be directed by the Town Council. The Managerial and Administrative Authority of the Town Administrator shall be authorized by the Town Council by ordinance. The office of the Town Administrator shall have such personnel and equipment as provided for in the annual approved Town Budgets.
(Ord. of 11-5-24(1))
Editor's note— An ordinance, adopted Nov. 5, 2024, renumbered the former § 613 as § 614 and enacted a new § 613 as set out herein. The historical notation has been retained with the amended provisions for reference purposes.
Sec. 614. - Eligibility of Elected Officials: Town Employment.#
No Federal, State or Municipal elected official who represents the Town of Exeter in any manner, shall be a paid employee, hired or appointed by the Town of Exeter, during the term for which he/she has been elected or during the one-year period immediately following the expiration of his or her Federal, State or Municipal term.
(Res. of 11-7-00; Ord. of 11-5-24(1))
Editor's note— Foremerly § 613.