Bill To Create Executive Director At CRMC Passes RI Senate

PROVIDENCE, RI — The state Senate has passed legislation introduced by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, New Shoreham, South Kingstown) that would create the position of executive director for the Coastal Resources Management Council.

Under the legislation, the governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, would appoint a director at the CRMC who would coordinate with the director of the Department of Environmental Management to continue planning and managing coastal resources.

“This legislation would make the CRMC a cabinet-level agency led by a governor-appointed executive director,” said Sosnowski in a news release. “This is a positive step needed to modernize, update and reform the agency to achieve more accountability and transparency for an agency that performs vitally important functions that are critical to the future of Rhode Island’s environment and economy.”

The Coastal Resources Management Council is primarily responsible for the preservation, protection, development and restoration of the coastal areas of the state. The agency develops integrated and comprehensive coastal management plans and issues permits for work with the coastal zone of the state.

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The measure now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

In 2018 Sosnowski sponsored a successful bill to remove legislative representation on the CRMC to establish separation of powers. Years ago, Sosnowski herself served as a Senate member of the CRMC.

Attorney General Peter Neronha recently issued letters harshly criticizing the commission's approval of permits for the expansion of Champlin’s Marina & Resort on Block Island and for a marina dock extension and dredging project in Jamestown.

Separate legislation before the House, sponsored by Rep. Deborah Ruggiero (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown), would create a commission to study the CRMC and provide recommendations for its reorganization. Ruggiero last month said the CRMC is a citizen zoning board made up of political appointees with no necessary technical expertise.