Rhode Island § 45-4-1 - Election and Qualification of Officers

§ 45-4-1. Officers to be elected.

(a) The electors in each town shall, on their town election days, choose and elect as many town officers as are required by the laws of the state; that is to say, a moderator to preside in all the meetings of the town, and a town clerk, a town council to consist of not less than three (3) nor more than seven (7) members, a town treasurer, a town sergeant, a town sealer of weights and measures, one or more auctioneers, a number of assessors of taxes, not less than three (3) nor more than seven (7), as may be deemed necessary, one or more collectors of taxes, one or more corders of wood, one or more packers of fish, one or more poundkeepers, one sealer of leather, and as many constables, directors of public welfare, viewers of fences, gaugers of casks, and other officers as are required by law in the town and as each or any town has occasion for, including persons to superintend the building of chimneys and placing of stoves and stovepipes; provided, that in the town of East Greenwich no constables shall be elected under the provisions of this section.

(b) It is further provided that in the town of Burrillville no corders of wood, packers of fish, sealers of leather, gaugers of casks, and persons to superintend the building of chimneys and placing of stoves and stovepipes shall be elected under the provisions of this section.

(c) It is further provided that in the town of Exeter, no tax collector shall be elected under the provisions of this section. The town council of the town of Exeter shall amend the Exeter town ordinances to provide for and entitle the town council to appoint a tax collector who shall serve at the pleasure of the town council and who may be removed for cause shown pursuant to § 44-7-5. Qualifications for the position shall be set by the town council and compensation paid as approved by the town financial meeting. The tax collector shall perform all duties previously required of the elected tax collector in the town of Exeter and any other duties required by law.

(d) It is further provided that in the town of North Kingstown, no fence viewer shall be elected or appointed under the provisions of this section.

(e) It is further provided that in the town of North Kingstown, no sealer of weights and measures shall be elected or appointed under the provisions of this section.