Rhode Island § 45-48-4 - Nasonville Water District

§ 45-48-4. Officers constituting administrative board — Powers — Bylaws — Elections.

(a) The electors of the district shall at each annual meeting elect officers to serve until the next succeeding first Tuesday in June and until their successors are elected and qualified, and the offices shall consist of a moderator, clerk, treasurer, three (3) assessors, and a collector of taxes, whose duties and powers are within the district, as like officers proper for a district. The officers constitute the administrative board, and the duties of the board are prescribed in this chapter, and are defined by the bylaws of the district. Any vacancy that may occur in any of the aforenamed offices between annual meetings shall be filled by some person to be chosen by the other members of the administrative board to hold the office until the next annual meeting. The electors of the district may, at any meeting, adopt and ordain bylaws, and, from time to time, rescind or amend the bylaws, as they deem necessary and proper for the purposes of this chapter and not repugnant to it and not inconsistent with any other law; provided, that no greater penalty is inflicted by the board than is prescribed in § 45-48-10; and provided, further, that the electors may appoint committees they deem necessary, and may fix the compensation of all officers, agents, employees, and committees of the district.

(b) For a person to become a candidate at any election under this section, that person must secure the signatures of at least five (5) registered voters in the district. The Nasonville water district petition must be filed in the office of the clerk of the district not later than 4:00 p.m. on the tenth day prior to the election, and the clerk shall certify as to whether a sufficient number of signers have affixed their signatures to the petition.

(c) The general election laws shall govern elections under this section so far as applicable and consistent with the provisions of this chapter. Paper ballots may be used for the elections and the elections shall be at the expense of the district. The ballots shall contain no designation of party or political principle and there shall be no primaries or other preliminary election.

(d) Whenever several offices having the same title and term are to be filled at the same election, there shall be a single contest for the offices and the candidates receiving the highest numbers of votes shall be elected. All elections shall be at large. Immediately after May 7, 1987, and after each annual district election, the assessors shall choose one of their number as chairperson of the assessors and the administrative board shall choose one member of the board as chairperson of the district. The chairpersons of both bodies may be the same person. All persons presently serving the district in any capacity shall remain in their positions until replaced at the next election held pursuant to this chapter.