(a)(1)  The Newport and Bristol County convention and visitors’ bureau dba Discover Newport shall be comprised of eighteen (18) members who are residents of the state of Rhode Island, preferably from Newport and Bristol Counties.

(2)  All members of the bureau as of September 1, 2005, shall cease to be members of the authority on September 1, 2005, and the bureau shall thereupon the board of directors be reconstituted as follows:

(i)  Three (3) board members shall be appointed by the Newport City Council; two (2) of whom shall be associated with the hospitality industry within Newport and/or Bristol Counties;

(ii)  Three (3) board members shall be appointed by the Middletown Town Council; two (2) of whom shall be associated with the hospitality industry within Newport and/or Bristol Counties;

(iii)  One board member shall be appointed by the Jamestown Town Council who shall be associated with the hospitality industry within Newport and/or Bristol Counties;

(iv)  One board member shall be appointed by the Portsmouth Town Council who shall be associated with the hospitality industry within Newport and/or Bristol Counties;

(v)  One board member shall be appointed by the Tiverton Town Council who shall be associated with the hospitality industry within Newport and/or Bristol Counties;

(vi)  One board member shall be appointed by the Little Compton Town Council who shall be associated with the hospitality industry within Newport and/or Bristol Counties;

(vii)  One board member shall be appointed by the Bristol Town Council who shall be associated with the hospitality industry within Newport and/or Bristol Counties;

(viii)  One board member shall be appointed by the Warren Town Council who shall be associated with the hospitality industry within Newport and/or Bristol Counties;

(ix)  One board member shall be appointed by the Barrington Town Council who shall be associated with the hospitality industry within Newport and/or Bristol Counties; and

(x)  Those board members appointed pursuant to paragraph (i) — (ix) shall thereupon appoint five (5) board members, who shall be from Newport and/or Bristol Counties:

(A)  One representative of hotels of more than one hundred (100) rooms;

(B)  One representative of hotels, inns, or bed-and-breakfasts of less than one hundred (100) rooms;

(C)  One representative of the restaurant industry;

(D)  One representative of the attractions industry; and

(E)  One member of the public to serve as an at-large representative who shall be associated with the hospitality industry.

(3)  Each board member shall be appointed to serve a term of three (3) years. Members of the board shall be eligible for appointment for two (2) consecutive terms or until their successor is appointed and qualified.

(4)  Those board members appointed under paragraphs (2)(i) and (2)(ii) of this section shall be Group A and terms shall expire in 2025, 2028, and every successive three-year (3) period thereafter.

(5)  Those board members appointed under paragraphs (2)(iii), (2)(iv), (2)(v), (2)(vi), (2)(vii), and (2)(viii) under this section shall be Group B and terms shall expire in 2023, 2026, and every successive three-year (3) period thereafter.

(6)  Those board members appointed under paragraphs (2)(ix) and (2)(x) of this section shall be Group C and terms shall expire in 2024, 2027, and every successive three-year (3) period thereafter.

(7)  The chairperson shall be elected by the members of the board of directors.

(i)  The chairperson may be permitted to serve up to two (2) additional one-year terms on the board; provided they are serving in the position of chair.

(8)(i)  No state legislator shall serve or be otherwise eligible to serve on the board of directors of Discover Newport.

(ii)  The members of the board of directors of Discover Newport shall serve without compensation.

(iii)  Discover Newport shall meet six (6) times a year at a time to be designated by the chairperson and/or president/CEO of Discover Newport.

(iv)  Special meetings of Discover Newport may be called by the chairperson and/or president/CEO of Discover Newport in accordance with the open meetings law.