2019 -- H 6014

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LC002458

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO THE CENTRAL COVENTRY FIRE DISTRICT

     

     Introduced By: Representative George A. Nardone

     Date Introduced: April 24, 2019

     Referred To: House Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 of Chapter 405 of the Public

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Laws, 2006, entitled, "AN ACT IN AMENDMENT OF THE INCORPORATION OF THE

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CENTRAL COVENTRY FIRE DISTRICT IN FURTHERANCE OF THE "CONSOLIDATION

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PLAN" OF THE CENTRAL COVENTRY FIRE DISTRICT, THE WASHINGTON LIGHTING

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DISTRICT, THE HARRIS FIRE & LIGHTING DISTRICT AND THE TIOGUE FIRE

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DISTRICT, AS APPROVED BY THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF SAID DISTRICTS, AT

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DULY CALLED MEETINGS HELD ON MARCH 28, 2006" and as subsequently amended by

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Chapter 238 of the Public Laws, 2012, and Chapters 34 and 45 of the Public Laws, 2017, are

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hereby amended to read as follows:

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     Sec. 3. FIRST CONSOLIDATED DISTRICT MEETING AND ANNUAL MEETINGS

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OF THE CONSOLIDATED FIRE DISTRICT. ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THE FIRE

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DISTRICT

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     (a) 2006 - First consolidated meeting:

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     Commencing in the year 2006, a special meeting of the consolidated district shall be held

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within thirty (30) days of the amendment of this Charter by and among the Boards of Directors of

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Central Coventry Fire District, the Washington Lighting District, the Harris Fire & Lighting

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District and the Tiogue Fire District for the purposes of constituting the first Board of Directors of

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the consolidated district, in accordance with Section 5 herein and for adopting the initial by-laws

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for the Consolidated District.

 

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     (b)(a) Annual Meetings & Quorum:

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     Annual meetings of said fire district for the election of officers and the transaction of any

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other business of the fire district shall be held. Twenty five (25) qualified voters shall constitute a

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quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the corporation.

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     The annual meeting of said district shall be held on the second Tuesday of December in

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each year. Effective for 2017 through 2018, the district's fiscal year shall be from December 1,

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2017, to December 31, 2018. Beginning on January 1, 2019, and each year thereafter the district's

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fiscal year shall be the calendar year, from January 1 until December 31.

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     Commencing in 2007 and continuing annually thereafter, the district The District shall

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hold an annual meeting in a public place on the first third Monday in October September, at 7:00

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P.M. at such place within the District as the Board shall determine, for the purposes of: (1)

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electing a Board of Directors; (2) authorizing the assessment of all the taxable personal and real

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property of the District; (3) authorizing the collection of taxes, as further set forth in Section 6

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hereunder; (4) authorizing an annual budget to provide for the purchase and maintenance of

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equipment, apparatus, real and personal property, the payment of wages and salaries, and for such

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other expenditures deemed necessary by the qualified voters of the District; and (5) For such

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other lawful purposes deemed necessary and proper by either the Board of Directors or qualified

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voters of the district.

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     (c)(b) Call of the Meeting:

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     The Clerk of the District District Clerk shall give notice of the annual meetings by

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causing a copy thereof to be posted at least twice in some newspaper distributed in Kent County,

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and posted in each fire station of the District not less than sixty (60) days prior to the meeting

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date in the Kent County Times, The Reminder, or a similar newspaper of general circulation

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distributed in Kent County, and posted in each fire station of the District thirty (30) days prior to

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the meeting and thereafter, at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting date. The annual meeting

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and all other meetings of the District shall be held in a public place, which shall be accessible to

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the handicapped, pursuant to the requirements of the Rhode Island Constitution, Article 1 & 2 and

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applicable federal and state non-discrimination laws.

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     Sec. 4. SPECIAL MEETINGS

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     (a) Special meetings may be called upon written request of not less than twenty-five (25)

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qualified voters, or may be called by a majority vote of the board of Directors. Written

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application for a special meeting as well as the notice thereof, shall mention the reason for such

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special meeting. Notice of the special meeting shall be given in the same manner as the annual

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meeting not less than thirty (30) days prior to the date of the meeting. The purpose of the meeting

 

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shall be stated in the notice and call for meeting and no other business shall be transacted. Special

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meetings of the fire District may be called upon written request of not less than one hundred

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(100) qualified voters or may be called by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. Written

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application for a special meeting of the fire District, as well as the notice thereof, shall mention

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the reason for such special meeting. Notice of the special meeting of the fire District shall be

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given in the same manner as the annual meeting not less than thirty (30) days prior to the date of

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the meeting, thereafter, at least seven (7) days prior to the date of the meeting. The purpose of the

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special meeting of the fire District shall be stated in the notice and call for meeting and no other

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business shall be transacted.

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     (b) Any special meeting called for the purpose of filling a vacancy among district officers

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shall be advertised in the same manner as the annual meeting, as set forth in Section 3 (c) of this

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Charter. Nothing herein shall prohibit the Board of Directors from calling such special Board of

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Directors meetings, or Board work sessions or workshops as they may from time to time require,

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so long as said meetings comply with the Open Meetings Act set forth in chapter 46 of title 42 of

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the Rhode Island General Laws.

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     Sec. 5. DIRECTORS & OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION – MODERATOR -

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QUALIFICATIONS

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     (a) The consolidated district board shall be comprised of seven (7) directors, none of

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whom shall be then serving as a Treasurer or Tax Collector of any individual district, appointed

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by the respective Boards of each individual fire district and shall be constituted as follows: Two

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(2) members shall be appointed by the Central Coventry Fire District; Two (2) members shall be

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appointed by the Central Washington Fire District; One (1) member shall be appointed by the

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Harris Fire District; One (1) member shall be appointed by the Tiogue Fire District; the final

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member shall be appointed by the preceding six (6) members and may be from any of the

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individual fire districts. The consolidated district Board of Directors shall elect a President and

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Vice President, and all seven Directors shall be qualified to serve in office until at least the next

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annual meeting. At the first meeting of the consolidated district, the Board shall determine by

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some acceptable means, the order in which the members’ seats shall come up for election. The

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District Board shall be comprised of seven (7) Directors. The Board of Directors shall elect a

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President and Vice President, and all seven (7) Directors shall be qualified to serve in the office

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until at least the next annual meeting. Board members shall serve three (3) year terms, staggered

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by the year in which they were elected. For example, if a Board member was elected in 2018, his

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or her term would be up for election in 2021.

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     (b) Thereafter, three (3) Directors will be elected to a three (3) year term at the 2007

 

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annual meeting and every third year thereafter. Two (2) directors shall be elected at the 2008

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annual meeting and every third year thereafter. Two (2) Directors shall be elected at the 2009

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annual meeting and every third year thereafter. Any inhabitant qualified to vote at any District

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meeting, may be a candidate for District office; provided, however, that no one who is employed

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by the District, as a firefighter, or employed by another fire District in the Town of Coventry, or

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employed by the Town of Coventry, or the state of Rhode Island, or an immediate family member

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of a District employee shall be a candidate for District office. Such candidate must submit to the

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District Clerk the title of the elective office sought, together with a petition signed by twenty (20)

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inhabitants qualified to vote at any fire District meeting, at least sixty (60) days prior to the date

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of the meeting. This list of signatures is to be certified by the District Clerk no later than thirty

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(30) days prior to an annual or special meeting of the fire District.

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     (c) Any inhabitant qualified to vote at any District meeting may be a candidate for

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District office, provided such candidate submits to the District clerk the title of the elective office

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sought, together with a petition signed by twenty (20) inhabitants qualified to vote at any District

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meeting, at least sixty (60) days prior to the date of the meeting, This list of signatures is to be

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certified by the clerk no later than thirty (30) days prior to an annual or special meeting of the

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District.

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     (d)(c) The clerk of the District District Clerk shall post in a conspicuous place a list of all

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persons certified to stand for election and the office to which each person seeks election in at least

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eight (8) public places within the district, including all actively used District stations, at least

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twenty (20) days prior to the annual meeting or any other special meeting called for the election

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of officers.

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     (e) The Board of Directors shall have the power to declare an office vacant if the person

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filling that office fails to attend three (3) consecutive monthly meetings of the Board.

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     (d) The Board of Directors shall have the power to declare an office vacant if the person

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filling that office fails to attend three (3) consecutive monthly meetings of the Board without

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prior notification to the Board. The Board is authorized to excuse the absence of a Director from

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any meeting.

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     (e) If a vacancy shall occur on the Board, the President or District Clerk shall call a

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meeting of the Board of Directors of the District within ten (10) working days after such vacancy

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shall occur. The remaining Board members shall appoint a replacement to fill the vacancy until

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the next regular election of officers, at which time the vacant position shall be filled through an

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election for the balance of the term.

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     (f) In the event that a vacancy in any elective office of the District occurs, the president or

 

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clerk shall call a meeting of the Board of Directors of the district within ten (10) working days

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after such vacancy occurs. The Board of Directors shall select a qualified elector of the District to

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fill the vacancy until the next annual meeting.

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     (g) Upon the occurrence of any vacancy in any elective office of the District, at the next

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annual meeting an election will be held for the purpose of electing a qualified elector to fill the

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office vacated for the remainder of the original term of office.

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     Sec. 6 DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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     (a) The Board of Directors shall hold monthly public meetings to conduct the business of

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the District. The Board of Directors shall be empowered and responsible to: (1) Fix the amount of

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the bond of the Finance Director or Treasurer and the Tax Collector; (2) Order payment of the

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district’s District's bills and indebtedness; (3) Be in charge of and supervise the care of the

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district’s District's properties; (4) Cause district District property to be insured; (5) Upon the

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recommendation of the Fire Chief, purchase Purchase equipment, property and apparatus and sell

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obsolete, decommissioned or surplus equipment, property and apparatus as required by the

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District’s needs and budget; (6) Appoint an Administrative a Fire Chief, Tax Collector and

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Treasurer and other employees. No less than one half (1/2) of the members of the Board of

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Directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board.

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     (b) The foregoing list of duties shall not be deemed to be limiting and the directors Board

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of Directors shall have all necessary authority to operate and conduct the business of the District

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as necessary, all within the bounds of the laws of the State of Rhode Island. The Board of

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Directors shall have the power to appoint and/or employ a tax assessor, tax collector, treasurer,

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clerk, and other committees and/or positions deemed necessary for the efficient operation of the

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District.

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     (c) The members of the Board of Directors and any official appointed by said Board of

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Directors shall be subject to the Rhode Island Code of Ethics in Government, Chapter 14 of Title

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36 of the Rhode Island General Laws.

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     (d) The president President of said District shall preside at all annual and special

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meetings as moderator; in his/her absence the vice president Vice President shall serve as

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moderator; in the absence of both, a temporary moderator may be elected by a majority of voters

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present and voting.

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     (e) The administrative duties of these Directors shall be specified in the by-laws of the

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fire district By-laws of the District.

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     (f) Recall of Director(s).

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     Any Director, having been in office for at least six (6) months, may be removed from

 

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office by a recall petition prepared and approved by the voters of the District in the manner

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hereinafter provided for recall.

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     Upon application by a registered voter of the District, the District Clerk shall issue recall

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petition blanks, which shall be dated, which shall demand the removal of the designated Director,

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and which shall also state the cause upon which the removal is sought. The petition is to be filed

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with the District Clerk within thirty (30) days after issuance to be in order for the certification

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process.

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     The signatures to a recall petition need not all be appended to a single paper, but each

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signer shall add his or her signature as the same appears on the Board of Canvassers and

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Registration's records, and the signer's place of residence, giving the street name and number.

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One of the signers shall take an oath before an officer competent to administer oaths that the

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statement therein made is true, as the signer believes, and that each signature to the paper

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appended is the genuine signature of the person whose name it purports to be.

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     The recall petition shall be signed by at least twenty percent (20%) of the registered

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voters of the District for certification purposes. The petition is to be submitted by the District

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Clerk to the Coventry Board of Canvassers and Registration for certification forthwith. If the

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petition shall be found and certified by the Board of Canvassers and Registration to be sufficient,

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within ten (10) days said Board shall submit the same to the Board of Directors without delay.

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The Board of Directors shall order an election to be held on a Monday fixed by it no more than

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seventy-five (75) days after the date of the Board of Canvassers and Registration's certificate that

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a sufficient petition is filed; however, if the annual meeting is to occur within ninety (90) days

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after the date of the certification, the Board of Directors shall postpone the holding of the recall

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election to the date of said annual meeting.

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     Sec. 7. TAXING AUTHORITY - TAX ASSESSOR

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     (a) Said qualified voters at any of their legal meetings shall have the power to order such

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taxes and provide for the assessing and collecting of the same on the taxable inhabitants and

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property in said district District as they shall deem necessary for purchasing fire engines, and all

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other implements and apparatus for the extinguishing of fire; for the purchase of land and

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buildings for keeping same; for the purchasing, installation, operation and maintenance of a

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suitable alarm system; for making cisterns and reservoirs; for the purchase of necessary vehicles

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and equipment to operate and maintain emergency medical services; for paying the salaries of

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district District officers and employees, as well as the members of the rescue unit known as

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Central Coventry Rescue. And such taxes, so ordered, shall be assessed by the assessors of said

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district District on the taxable inhabitants and property therein according to the last valuation

 

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made by the assessors of the town of Coventry next previous to said assessment, adding,

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however, any taxable property which may have been omitted by said town assessors or afterwards

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acquired; and in assessing and collecting said taxes such proceedings shall be had by the officers

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of said district District, as near as may be, as are required to be had by the corresponding officers

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of towns in assessing and collecting taxes.

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     (b) The qualified voters of the Central Coventry Fire District are also authorized to raise

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money through taxes to purchase the necessary vehicles and equipment to operate and maintain a

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rescue unit to be known as the Central Coventry Rescue.

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     (c) TAX ASSESSOR

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     There shall be at least one District Tax Assessor, who may also serve as District Clerk,

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who shall be appointed or employed by the District Board of Directors. The tax assessor Assessor

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shall levy and assess taxes at such rate as the district shall vote, on all taxable real and personal

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property in the district and shall prepare and deposit the tax list with the tax collector and

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treasurer of the district; said board shall assess property on the basis of the last valuation made by

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the assessors of the Town of Coventry next previous to said assessment be responsible to certify

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the tax roll prior to the annual meeting and shall report the same to the Board of Directors.

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     Sec. 8. DISTRICT CLERK

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     There shall be a District Clerk who shall be appointed or employed by the District. The

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clerk District Clerk shall keep full, fair and accurate records and minutes of the meetings of the

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Board of Directors and district District meetings and shall make said minutes available to

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members of the public, in accordance with the Rhode Island Public Records Act, Chapter 2 of

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Title 38 of the Rhode Island General Laws. The District Clerk shall be responsible to give notice

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of District meetings as set forth under the provisions of this Charter and pursuant to the Rhode

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Island Open Meetings Laws, Chapter 46 of Title 42 of the Rhode Island General Laws. The clerk

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District Clerk shall maintain a current copy of the District Charter and by–laws By-laws.

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     Sec . 9. DISTRICT TREASURER

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     There shall be a District Treasurer who shall be appointed or employed by the District.

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The Treasurer shall receive all money paid to the District and deposit the same in such federally

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insured bank or banking system as shall be designated by the Board of Directors to the credit of

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the District, provided that in the event of a surplus of funds, the Board of Directors may direct

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deposits to be made in a savings account in some federally insured banking institution. The

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Treasurer shall sign all duly authorized distinct notes and bonds and shall be bonded in an amount

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to be determined by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall pay all District obligations by

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check, as approved by the Board of Directors and shall close the books as of the last day of each

 

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fiscal year. The Treasurer shall submit a report to the Board of Directors monthly. The Treasurer

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shall at every annual meeting, fully report the condition of the treasury of the District, showing

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receipts and expenditures of the preceding year.

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     FINANCE DIRECTOR -- TREASURER

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     The Board of Directors shall be empowered to employ a Finance Director or Treasurer,

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as the same shall be referred to. The position shall be responsible for management and

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administration of the District, except for fire department operations, which shall be the purview of

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a fire chief, and shall be responsible to and shall report to the Board of Directors monthly. This

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person shall have a degree in accounting or a Certified Public Accountant ("CPA") designation as

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minimum criteria. The following shall also be included as the duties and responsibilities of this

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position, as may be modified from time to time by the Board of Directors:

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     The position shall account for all money paid to the District and ensure that the same is

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deposited into such federally insured bank or banking institution as shall be designated by the

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Board of Directors to the credit of the District, provided that in the event of a surplus of funds, the

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Board of Directors may direct deposits to be made in a savings account in some federally insured

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banking institution. The position shall sign all duly authorized District notes and bonds and shall

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be bonded in an amount to be determined by the Board of Directors. The position shall pay all

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District obligations by check, or ACH, provided the same are within the spending authority

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established by the qualified electors at the annual meeting; otherwise, such expenditures shall be

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approved by the Board of Directors. The position shall close the books as of the last day of each

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fiscal year. The position shall submit a report to the Board of Directors monthly. The position

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shall at every annual meeting, fully report the condition of the treasury of the District, showing

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receipts and expenditures of the preceding year.

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     In addition to the foregoing, the position shall oversee all financial operations of the

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District and direct financial planning and structure, coordinate, analyze and report the financial

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performance to the Board; prepare short- and long-term financial forecasts of financial

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performance for use with internal management and external parties; oversee audit functions;

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develop, implement and maintain accounting and administrative policies and procedures for

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financial accounting, employee relations and other District policies; coordinate all human

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resource activities including employee benefits, retirement, corporate insurance and related

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activities.

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     Sec. 10. TAX COLLECTOR

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     There shall be a District Tax Collector who shall be appointed or employed by the

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District. The tax collector shall collect and pay to the District treasurer all taxes and interest

 

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collected by him/her as and when received and shall be bonded in a sum fixed by the Board of

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Directors; shall close his or her books as of the last day of each fiscal year and shall prepare and

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present a written report to the annual meeting; shall submit a written report to the treasurer

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monthly; shall consult an attorney approved by the Board when legal action is necessary for the

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collection of unpaid taxes; shall be responsible for the preparation of the tax roll. The Tax

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Collector shall collect and cause to be deposited into a federally insured bank or banking

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institution as designated by the Board of Directors all taxes and interest collected by him or her as

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and when received and shall be bonded in a sum fixed by the Board of Directors; shall close his

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or her books as of the last day of each fiscal year and shall prepare and present a written report to

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the annual meeting; shall submit a written report to the Board of Directors monthly; shall consult

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an attorney approved by the Board when legal action is necessary for the collection of unpaid

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taxes, including being responsible for holding an annual tax sale on property to satisfy unpaid

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taxes owed to the District; and, shall be responsible for the preparation of the tax roll.

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     Sec. 11. BY-LAWS

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     The qualified voters of said district District may enact all by-laws By-laws by them

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adjudged necessary and expedient for carrying the provisions of this act into effect, provided the

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same be not in violation of or repugnant to the laws of this state. The qualified voters may change

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any provision of the by-laws By-laws at any annual or special meeting, provided the proposed

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change has been noticed in the call of the meeting.

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     Sec. 12. AUTHORIZATION TO BORROW FUNDS

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     The Central Coventry fire district Fire District is hereby authorized and empowered to

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borrow from time to time such sums of money as may be necessary, not however, to exceed the

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sum of one-half (1/2) of the annual operating budget, for the purpose of procuring real and

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personal estate, the erection and maintenance of buildings, the procuring of fire and water

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apparatus, for the payment of any legal indebtedness of said district, or for the purpose of

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purchasing or procuring any other property, real or personal, that may be legally acquired and

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held by said district in anticipation of current taxes and revenues, not to exceed fifteen percent

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(15%) of the annual budget.

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     Sec. 13. The Central Coventry fire district is authorized to install lighting on the streets

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and highways of the district; provided, however, that any new installation of lighting or repair of

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existing lighting shall be required to use Light-Emitting Diode ("LED") or other energy-reducing

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technology to lower the cost of said lighting.

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     Sec. 15. This act shall take effect no later than sixty (60) days after its enactment and all

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acts or parts of acts inconsistent herewith or repugnant thereto, are hereby repealed.

 

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect no later than sixty (60) days after passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO THE CENTRAL COVENTRY FIRE DISTRICT

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     This act would amend the procedures for the holding of the annual meeting, special

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meetings, the election, recall and duties of the board of directors and officers as well as the duties

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of the tax assessor, district clerk, finance director-treasurer and tax collector, the borrowing of

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funds and installation or repair of lighting.

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     This act would take effect no later than sixty (60) days after passage.

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