Lawmakers want changes at CRMC

Jamestown’s state senator is co-sponsoring a bill that would create the position of executive director for the Coastal Resources Management Council.

Although Jeffrey Willis currently serves in that role, the post is confirmed by the agency’s 10-member board. The legislation by Sen. Dawn Euer would make the position a gubernatorial appointee “with the advice and consent of the Senate.”

Sen. Susan Sosnowski, who represents South Kingstown, introduced the bill to make the council “a cabinet-level agency.”

“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,” she said.