The Town of East Greenwich was founded in 1677 and has an important place in early American history.  Continental Army General James Mitchell Varnum lived in our town.  East Greenwich became the founding birthplace of the United States Navy in 1775 when the Rhode Island colonial legislature, meeting here, chartered two vessels ( the Katy, later renamed Providence, and the Washington) to protect the colony from the British.  A lot has happened over the Town’s 340 year history as the community grew from 1,800 people in 1790 to its present size of 13,000.  At 16 square miles, the town contains a working waterfront, a historic downtown, commercial development along RI State Route 2, and a rural “West of Route 2” area with winding canopied country roads lined by stone walls.  In 2009 East Greenwich became a University Town, with the arrival of the New England Institute of Technology.

Presiding over the municipality is a governmental structure that has not changed significantly since the eighteenth century, and consists of a five-member Town Council. 

In 1972, the voters of the Town of East Greenwich, through a “Home Rule Charter,” adopted a Council/Manager form of government. This provides a five-member legislative body with a professional administrator. The legislative body is styled after the traditional New England form of government with a five-member Town Council elected at large for two year terms. The Town Manager is chosen by the Town Council and serves at their discretion. The Manager is charged with the administrative responsibility of the Town Government.

The Council, through the Town Manager, presides over the financial and administrative affairs of the Town.  The foundation of the Council’s financial oversight is the submission of the Town’s Annual Budget.  In 2016, the voters of the Town abolished the Financial Town Meeting (FTM).  The FTM, if attended by a quorum of 250 East Greenwich Voters, previously had the authority to reject the Council’s proposed annual budget. With the elimination of the Town Meeting, the Council can now unilaterally vote to approve the annual budget.  The budget funds the full array of municipal services provided to Town residents. The 2021 town budget of $72 million  is allocated predominantly to our school department, followed by fire, police and public works.  

The council also has the power to enact, repeal or amend ordinances relating the Town’s property and governmental affairs.  The council ratifies labor agreements between the Town and the municipality’s five labor unions (excluding unions under the control of the School Department). Additional responsibilities of the Council are to appoint the Town Manager, Town Solicitor, and appoint members of the Town’s Boards and Commissions, including Planning, Zoning, Public Housing, Historic District and Personnel.