R.I. Gen. Laws § 36-4-26
If the appointing authority has designated the employment list, the personnel administrator shall immediately certify all of the names . If any of the eligibles notifies the personnel administrator or appointing authority that he or she is unavailable for appointment, or if the personnel administrator or the appointing authority is unable to contact them within five (5) business days, their name shall be removed from the list . The appointing authority shall appoint one of the persons in ranked standing order so certified to the position from the appropriate list, or in accordance with the special certification provided for in § 36-4-26.1 of this chapter. Nothing in this section precludes the personnel administrator or appointing authority from contacting multiple eligibles at the same time when there are multiple vacancies to fill. If he or she has designated the promotional list, certification shall be made in the manner prescribed for the employment list. If he or she has designated the reemployment list, the names of all available eligibles on the list shall be certified to him or her for appointment. He or she may choose from any of the names so certified. If there are as many as three (3) available eligibles certified from an employment list, a promotion list, or a reemployment list, the appointing authority shall make an appointment from one of these lists. If there are less than three (3) available eligibles certified from any of these lists, the appointing authority may choose to appoint one of the persons so certified. If the appointing authority decides not to make an appointment from any of the names so certified when there are less than three (3) available eligibles, the personnel administrator shall certify the names of three (3) available eligibles from any list which he or she shall declare to be appropriate and the appointing authority shall appoint one of the persons so certified. If there are less than three (3) available eligibles certified from an appropriate list, the appointing authority may elect to appoint one of the names so certified or may make a temporary appointment of some other person as hereinafter provided.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 36-4-26