There is hereby authorized, created and established within the executive department a scenic roadways board consisting of eleven (11) members as follows: one member shall be the director of the department of transportation or his or her designee who shall be a subordinate within the department of transportation; one member shall be the director of the department of environmental management or his or her designee who shall be a subordinate within the department of environmental management; one member shall be the chair of the historic preservation commission; one member shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate giving due consideration to the recommendation of Grow Smart Rhode Island; one member shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate giving due consideration to the recommendation of the Rhode Island builders association; six (6) members shall be appointed by the governor from the general public with the advice and consent of the senate, in making these appointments, the governor shall take into consideration the impact on the local communities. The governor shall give due consideration to members of local land trusts, chamber of commerce recommendations and shall also consider the need for individuals with expertise in landscape architecture, community planning, and/or transportation engineers with experience with traffic calming and flexible design policies. The members shall be chosen as far as is reasonably practicable to represent geographical diversity and communities where designated scenic roadways exist. During the month of January, in each year the governor shall appoint a member to succeed the departing member. The newly appointed member shall serve for a term of three (3) years or until their respective successors are appointed and qualified. The members of the board shall be eligible to succeed themselves. Any vacancy of a public member which may occur in the board shall be filled by appointment by the governor for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as the member's predecessor as prescribed in this section. The membership of the board shall receive no compensation for their services, and shall not be reimbursed for any expenses. Those members of the board as of the effective date of this act [July 9, 2005] who were appointed to the board by members of the general assembly shall cease to be members of the board on the effective date of this act, and the governor shall thereupon appoint the four (4) new members as prescribed in this section. Those members of the board as of the effective date of this act [July 9, 2005] who were appointed to the board by the governor shall continue to serve the balance of their current terms. Upon the expiration of the term of the member representing the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, the governor shall appoint a new member, and shall give due consideration to the recommendation of Grow Smart Rhode Island. Thereafter, the appointments shall be made by the governor as prescribed in this section. No one shall be eligible for appointment unless he or she is a resident of this state. The director of the department of transportation shall direct staff to support the board within the constraints of available resources.
History of Section.
P.L. 1985, ch. 398, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 233, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 180, § 55; P.L. 2005, ch. 228, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 315, § 1.