§ 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.