Council approves amended ordinance to combine housing and building appeals boards after clarifying mayoral appointment powers

The Warwick City Council voted to advance an ordinance combining the city's Housing Board of Review with the Building Code Board of Appeals, after adopting amendments to clarify how members would be chosen during the transition.

Administration argued consolidation reduces duplication between two boards that often address the same violations. "There's an incredible amount of overlap between the housing board and the building code board, and it just... makes sense to have one board," said the solicitor during committee discussion.

Council members raised concerns about removing the council's advice‑and‑consent role during the interim transition, and asked that any change protect previously approved appointments. In response the council adopted amendments so the existing Building Board of Appeals membership (which meets statutory qualifications) would form the combined board initially, and the council's advice/consent authority would continue for future appointments. Administration staff confirmed the change aligns with state building code composition rules and that the housing board had met only rarely in recent years.

The ordinance now moves forward as amended; staff said it will be cross‑referenced to the applicable state statute on local board composition and proceed through the city's two‑pass ordinance process.