The town council may appoint a member in good standing of the bar of the State of Rhode Island, with no fewer than 5 years of experience in the active practice of law, to sit as judge of the municipal court for a term of 2 years and subject to re-appointment. Whenever such judge of the municipal court is a party or interested in any proceeding about to be heard in his or her court, or is absent or unable to perform his or her duties, or there is a vacancy in the office of judge, the council shall designate a qualified member of the bar of the State of Rhode Island to act as a municipal judge. The fact of such interest, absence, inability or vacancy shall be recorded in the records of said court. (Added, November 4, 2008; Amended, November 6, 2018.)