R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-7-21

(a) Upon the application of any petitioner for a license, or of any person authorized to protest against the granting of a license, including those persons granted standing pursuant to § 3-5-19, or upon the application of any licensee whose license has been revoked or suspended by any local board or authority, the director has the right to review the decision of any local board, and after hearing, to confirm or reverse the decision of the local board in whole or in part, and to make any decision or order he or she considers proper, but the application shall be made within ten (10) days after the making of the decision or order sought to be reviewed. Notice of the decision or order shall be given by the local or licensing board to the applicant within twenty-four (24) hours after the making of its decision or order and the decision or order shall not be suspended except by the order of the director.

(b) Any appeal or appeals from a decision of any boards located in the towns of Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Portsmouth or Tiverton, or in the city of Newport shall be heard by the director or the director€™s designee within Newport County. The petitioner shall provide a stenographer and shall bear the cost to have a transcript made of the proceedings. A free copy of the transcript shall be provided by the petitioner to the director upon receipt of the transcript.

(c) The director may accept into evidence a stenographic transcript of a witness€™s sworn testimony presented before the local board that was subject to cross examination. This testimony may be rebutted by competent testimony presented at the hearing held by the director.