§ 2-4-9 - Designation of district directors – Appointments – Elections. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 2-4-9

   § 2-4-9  Designation of district directors– Appointments – Elections. – (a) Three (3) directors will be appointed by the state conservation committeeand shall be persons who are by training and experience qualified to performthe services which will be required of them in the performance of their duties.In appointing directors, the state committee shall take into consideration therecommendations of the representative of the state committee from the area inwhich the district is located, as well as representation of the variousinterests of the district such as agricultural, woodland, wildlife, recreation,community and conservation groups.

   (b) The committee shall receive nomination petitions fordirectors, whose terms have expired, by or before January 15 of the yearfollowing their expiration and shall take action to approve or reject thenominees within thirty (30) days of receipt. The committee has the authority toextend the time within which nominating petitions may be filed.

   (c) No nomination petition shall be accepted by the committeeunless it is subscribed to by twenty-five (25) or more occupiers of lands lyingwithin the boundaries of the district. Land occupiers may sign more than onenominating petition to nominate more than one candidate for director.

   (d) The conservation districts shall give notice and holdelections for the two (2) directors for each district on or before January 15of the year following the expiration of these elected directors' terms. Alloccupiers of lands lying within the district shall be eligible to vote in theelection. The two (2) candidates who shall receive the largest number,respectively, of the votes cast in the election shall be the elected directorsfor the district.

   (e) All elections of directors shall be supervised andconducted by the district directors of the districts involved. The electionsshall be held during a period prescribed or approved by the state conservationcommittee and in that manner and under any rules and regulations that the statecommittee prescribes. The cost of conducting elections shall be borne by thedistrict involved. The board of directors shall certify to the state committeethe names of the elected directors. The state committee shall issuecertificates of election to each certified director, and shall publish theresults of the election in some newspaper of general circulation in the area.

   (f) The board of directors may appoint associate directors,as deemed necessary, to advise and consult with the board and to broadenrepresentation from the communities within the district.