R.I. Gen. Laws § 36-4-60: Delegation by appointing authority.

Whenever under the provisions of this chapter any action is permitted or required to be done by an appointing authority, the appointing authority may delegate the responsibility for the performance of that action to such subordinate officers or employees as he or she may see fit; provided, however, that no authority to discharge or otherwise terminate or suspend an employee shall be delegated to a subordinate officer or employee unless the subordinate officer or employee has previously been delegated the authority to hire or appoint employees of category similar to that employee.