2022 -- S 2965

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LC005929

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 492 OF THE PUBLIC LAWS OF 2006 AMENDING THE

CHARTER OF THE CENTRAL COVENTRY FIRE DISTRICT

     

     Introduced By: Senator Gordon E. Rogers

     Date Introduced: May 19, 2022

     Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 7 (a), Section 9 and Section 12 of Chapter 492 of the Public Laws of

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2006, as amended, 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 DULY

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CALLED MEETINGS HELD ON MARCH 28, 2006" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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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 as they shall deem necessary for purchasing fire engines, and all other

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

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

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system; for the purchasing, installation, operation and maintenance of lighting on the streets and

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highways of the district; for making cisterns and reservoirs; for paying the salaries of district

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officers and employees, as well as the members of the rescue unit known as Central Coventry

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Rescue and for the payment of its legal indebtedness. And such taxes, so ordered, shall be assessed

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by the assessors of said district on the taxable inhabitants and property therein according to the last

 

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valuation 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, as near as may be, as are required to be had by the corresponding officers of towns

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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. The tax assessor shall levy and assess taxes at

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such rate as the district shall vote, on all taxable real and personal property in the district and shall

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prepare and deposit the tax list with the tax collector and treasurer of the district; said board shall

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assess property on the basis of the last valuation made by the assessors of the Town of Coventry

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next previous to said assessment.

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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. The

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

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

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provided that in the event of a surplus of funds, the Board of Directors may direct deposits to be

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made in a savings account in some federally insured banking institution The Board of Directors

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may also appoint one of its members to serve as the Assistant Treasurer of the District. The

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Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer shall sign all duly authorized distinct notes and bonds. and The

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District Treasurer shall be bonded in an amount to be determined by the Board of Directors. The

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Treasurer shall pay all District obligations by check, as approved by the Board of Directors and

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shall close the books as of the last day of each fiscal year. The Treasurer shall submit a report to

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the Board of Directors monthly. The Treasurer shall at every annual meeting, fully report the

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condition of the treasury of the District, showing receipts and expenditures of the preceding year.

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     Sec. 12 AUTHORIZATION TO BORROW FUNDS

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     The Central Coventry fire district is hereby authorized and empowered to borrow from

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time to time such sums of money as may be necessary, not however, to exceed in the aggregate the

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outstanding principal sum of one-half (1/2) of the annual operating budget, for the purpose of

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

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and water apparatus, the procuring of street lighting apparatus, for the payment of any legal

 

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indebtedness of said district, or for the purpose of purchasing or procuring any other property, real

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or personal, that may be legally acquired and held by said district.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 492 OF THE PUBLIC LAWS OF 2006 AMENDING THE

CHARTER OF THE CENTRAL COVENTRY FIRE DISTRICT

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     This act would amend several sections of the Central Coventry Fire District Charter to

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provide for the purchasing, installation, operation, and maintenance of street lighting and would

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provide funding for indebtedness of the Central Coventry Rescue and would provide for the

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appointment of an Assistant Treasurer.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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