Whenever it satisfactorily appears to the town council that the town clerk is disqualified, from any cause whatsoever, to exercise and perform the several duties of his or her office, it may and shall appoint a town clerk pro tempore, who is qualified as provided in this chapter, and is authorized to perform all the duties of town clerk, until the disability of the town clerk is, in the opinion of the town council, removed, or until a town clerk is legally elected by the town.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-5-7