2006 -- S 3189

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LC03565

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2006

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A N A C T

IN AMENDMENT OF THE INCORPORATION OF THE CENTRAL COVENTRY FIRE

DISTRICT IN FURTHERANCE OF THE "CONSOLIDATION PLAN" OF THE CENTRAL

COVENTRY FIRE DISTRICT, THE WASHINGTON LIGHTING DISTRICT, THE HARRIS

FIRE & LIGHTING DISTRICT AND THE TIOGUE FIRE DISTRICT, AS APPROVED BY

THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF SAID DISTRICTS, AT DULY CALLED MEETINGS HELD

ON MARCH 28, 2006

     Introduced By: Senators Blais, and Raptakis

     Date Introduced: June 21, 2006

     Referred To: Senate Commerce, Housing & Municipal Government

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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      Section 1. BOUNDARIES OF CONSOLIDATED DISTRICT

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     All that part of the town of Coventry lying and being within the following lines and

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bounds: Beginning at a point on the Coventry-West Greenwich town line six hundred (600) feet

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easterly from the intersection of said town line with Weaver Hill road, so called; thence

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continuing in a general northerly direction in a line which is at all times six hundred (600) feet

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from and paralled with said Weaver Hill road to Harkney Hill road, so called; thence continuing

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in a general northerly direction in a line which at all times is six hundred (600) feet from and

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parallel with an old highway (formerly known as the Williams Crossing road) which leads from

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the intersection of said Weaver Hill road and said Harkney Hill road to Rhode Island state

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highway route 117 to a point six hundred (600) feet southerly from said route 117; thence turning

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and running in general northeasterly and easterly direction in a line which at all times is six

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hundred (600) feet southerly from and parallel with said route 117 to a point six hundred (600)

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feet easterly from the point where County road or Hammit road, whichever called, if extended

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would intersect this boundary line; thence turning and running northerly in a line which at all

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times is six hundred (600) feet easterly from and parallel with said County or Hammit road so

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extended; and said County or Hammit road to a point on the PottervilIe or Maple Valley road, so

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called which point is 900 feet more or less, easterly from the Potterville or Maple Valley school

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so called thence continuing in a general northerly direction in a line which at all times is six

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hundred (600) feet easterly from and parallel with the Nipmuc trail so called, to the Scituate-

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Coventry town line; (the above line is the eastern boundary of the Western Coventry fire district

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and was taken from their act of incorporation of 1942), thence turning and running easterly on

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said Scituate-Coventry town line to the northwest corner of lot 116 on AP-30 of the town of

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Coventry records; thence turning and running southerly on a line 300 feet east of and parallel to

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the east line of Read School House road until it comes to the intersection of said Read School

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House road with said Rhode Island state highway 117; thence crossing said route 117 and

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continuing in a straight line to the north end of the dam on Flat River reservoir thence running

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across said dam to the south end of said dam; thence running southerly in a straight line to a point

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on Rhode Island state highway, route 3, three hundred feet west of the intersection of Airport road

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with said route 3; thence continuing southerly in a straight line to the intersection of Mishnock

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river with the West Greenwich-Coventry town line; thence turning and running westerly along

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said town line to the point of beginning.

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     In addition, all those parts of the Town of Coventry within the following boundaries of

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the entities known as the Harris Fire & Lighting District and the Tiogue Fire District, and the

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Washington Lighting District, all as further described as follows:

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     And, all that land beginning at a stone bound in the dividing line between the Towns of

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Coventry and West Warwick, on the south side of the Woodside Avenue (said point being the

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northeast corner of the Coventry fire district); thence running northerly on said town line to the

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Cranston city line; thence turning and running westerly along the dividing line of the Town of

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Coventry and the City of Cranston and continuing westerly along the dividing line of the Town of

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Coventry and Scituate to the old New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad right-of-way;

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thence turning and running in a southerly and easterly direction along said railroad to a point 250

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feet west of the west line of Hill Street; thence running southerly on a line 250 feet west of and

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parallel to the west side of said Hill Street until it comes to a point on the south line of lot 367 on

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Coventry assessors plat 2, 250 feet west of the west line of said Hill Street; thence southerly in a

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straight line to the northeast corner of lot 369 assessors plat 2, thence southerly on the east line of

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said lot 369, to the southeast corner of said lot 369; thence turning and running westerly along the

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south line of said lot 369 to the corner of lot 372 plat 2; thence turning and running southerly

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along the west line of said lot 372 and continuing southerly on the west line of lot 265 of

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assessors plat 3; to the northwest corner of lot 268 plat 3; from now on to the place of beginning

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is the boundary line of the Coventry fire district; thence turning and running easterly along the

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north line of said lot 268 to the west side of Blackrock Road; thence turning and running

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southerly along the west side of said Blackrock Road to the so-called black rock; thence turning

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and running in a northeasterly direction to the southwest corner of Greenwood Cemetery; thence

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turning and running easterly along the southerly line of said Greenwood Cemetery to Fairview

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Avenue; thence turning and running northeasterly to a point on said Fairview Avenue opposite

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the south side of said Woodside Avenue; thence turning and running easterly along the south side

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of said Woodside Avenue to the place of beginning, all such land formerly known as the Harris

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Fire and Lighting District.

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     And, all that land beginning at a point in the boundary line between the Towns of

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Coventry and West Warwick, 800 feet south of the southerly line of Tiogue Avenue (Route 3

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state highway); thence turning and running westerly, bounded northerly by the Coventry fire

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district, to the southeast corner of land now or formerly of George E. and Olive T. Bockstael,

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(shown on assessors plat 7, lot 420 of the Town of Coventry records); thence turning and running

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in a northwesterly direction to the Gate House at the outlet of Tiogue Reservoir, and continuing

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along the westerly and southerly banks of the Pawtuxet River, until it comes to the eastern

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boundary line of the Washington lighting district; thence turning and running southerly, bounded

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westerly by said Washington lighting district, until it comes to the intersection of the center line

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of Route 3, state highway and the west line of Arnold Road (Arnold Road is referred to in the

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Washington lighting district charter as Balm of Gilead Road); thence turning and running

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westerly, bounded northerly by said Washington lighting district, along the center line of Route 3,

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until it comes to a point 100 feet east of the northeast corner of land now or formerly of Douglas

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Jackson; thence turning and running in a southerly direction in a direct line to the northwest

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corner of Tiogue Twin Lakes no. 2 plat; thence running to the southeast corner of Lake George

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Plat; thence following along the eastern boundaries of properties now or formerly of Jerry

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Johnson, et ux, Linwood Lace Works and William J. Beattie; thence in a direct line to a stone

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bound in the boundary line between the Towns of Coventry and West Greenwich, this being the

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northwest corner of the Town of East Greenwich; thence turning and running easterly on said

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town line, bounded southerly by the Town of East Greenwich, until it comes to a point 300 feet

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east of the southeasterly line of the New London Turnpike; thence turning and running in a

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northeasterly direction, in a line parallel with and 300 feet east of the southeasterly line of said

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New London Turnpike, until it comes to the boundary line between the Towns of West Warwick

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and Coventry; thence turning and running northerly on said town line until it comes to a point 800

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feet south of the southerly side of Tiogue Avenue and the point of beginning, all such land being

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previously known as Tiogue Fire District.

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     And all that land beginning at the northeast abutment of the railroad bridge, called the

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Knotty Oak Bridge, and running northerly to the southeast corner of the Rathbun Cemetery and

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continuing in the same straight line until it comes to the seven and ten line, so called, thence

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turning and running westerly following the seven and ten line until it comes to a point 500 feet

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east of the east line of Station Street; thence turning and running northerly on a line 500 feet east

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of and parallel to the east line of Station Street; thence turning and running northerly on a line 500

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feet east of and parallel to the east line of Station Street, until it comes to a point at the southwest

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corner of lot 4 as depicted on the Town of Coventry 1972 Assessor’s Plat 21, said point being on

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the southerly line of Record Lot 8 (AP 69, Lot 49) as shown on that plat entitled

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“SUBDIVISION PLAN OF HIGHWOOD SECTION NO. 4 SITUATED IN COVENTRY, R.I.

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SCALE: 1” = 50’ MAY 31, 1978.” which is recorded in the Town of Coventry Land Evidence

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Plat Book 7 at Page 22; thence westerly, bounded northerly by a portion of Record Lot 8 (AP 69,

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Lot 49) and Record Lot 6 (AP 69, Lot 48) as shown on said plat, to a point at the southwesterly

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corner of Record Lot 4 (AP 69, Lot 47) as shown on said plat; thence northwesterly, bounded

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northeasterly by Record Lot 4 (AP 69, Lot 47) as shown on said plat, to a point at the

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southwesterly corner of Record Lot 4 (AP 69, Lot 47) as shown on said plat; thence

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northwesterly, bounded northeasterly by Record Lot 4 (AP 69, Lot 47) as shown on said plat, to a

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point on the southerly line of Highwood Drive at the northwesterly corner of Record Lot 4 (AP

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69, Lot 47) as shown on said plat; thence northwesterly and crossing Highwood Drive to a point

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at the southwesterly corner of Record Lot 3 (AP 69, Lot 25) as shown on said plat; thence

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northwesterly, bounded northeasterly by Record Lot 3 as shown on said plat, to a point at the

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northwesterly corner of Record Lot 3 (AP 69, Lot 25) as shown on said plat;

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     Thence northeasterly, bounded southeasterly in part by Record Lot 3 (AP 69, Lot 25) and

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in part by Record Lot 5 (AP 69, Lot 24) as shown on said plat, to a point at the southwesterly

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corner of Record Lot 50 (AP 69, Lot 90) as shown on that plat entitled “RECORD PLAN PHASE

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3 Highwood Subdivision A RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION LOCATED IN COVENTRY, R.I.

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PREPARED BY DiPrete Engineering Associates, Inc. ENGINEERING, SURVEYING AND

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PLANNING CONSULTANTS 75 SOCKANOSSET CROSSROAD, SUITE 300 CRANSTON,

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R.I. 02920 (401) 943-1000 FAX: (401) 464-6006 JULY, 1995 Scale: 1” = 60’.” which plan is

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recorded in the Town of Coventry Land Evidence Plat Book 14 at Page 66;

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     Thence northeasterly, bounded southeasterly by Record Lot 50 (AP 59, Lot 90) as shown

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on said plat, to a point on the southerly line of Ginger Trail at the northwesterly corner of Record

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Lot 50 (AP 69, Lot 90) as shown on said plat;

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     Thence northwesterly, crossing Ginger Trail, to a point at the southwesterly corner of

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Record Lot 20 (AP 69, Lot 104) as shown on said plat;

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     Thence northwesterly, bounded northeasterly in part by Record Lot 20 (AP 69, Lot 104)

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and crossing Record Lot 68 (AP 69, Lot 3.11), to a point at the southerly corner of Record Lot 11

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(AP 69, Lot 116) as shown on that plat entitled “RECORD PLAN PHASE 4 Highwood

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Subdivision A RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION LOCATED IN COVENTRY, R.I. PREPARED

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BY DiPrete Engineering Associates, Inc. ENGINEERING, SURVEYING AND PLANNING

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CONSULTANTS 75 SOCKANOSSET CROSSROAD, SUITE 300 CRANSTON, R.I. 02920

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(401) 943-1000 FAX: (401) 464-6006 JULY, 1995 Scale: 1” = 60’.” which plan is recorded in

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the Town of Coventry Land Evidence Plat Book 15 at Page 72;

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     Thence northeasterly, bounded northwesterly by Record Lot 11 (AP 69, Lot 116) as

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shown on said plat, to a point at the northeasterly corner of Record Lot 11 (AP 69, Lot 116) as

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shown on said plat;

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     Thence southeasterly, bounded northeasterly by AP 69 Lot 35, to a point at the

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southeasterly corner of AP 69 Lot 35, said point also being on the existing charter line;

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     Thence northerly, bounded westerly by AP 69 Lots 35, 36, 37, 38, 39.01 and 39.02, and

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running on the existing charter line to the northeasterly corner of AP 69 Lot 39.02;

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     Thence easterly, bounded northerly by AP 77 Lots 90 and 89, and running on the existing

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charter line to the southwesterly corner of AP 70 Lot 35;

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     Thence northerly, bounded westerly by AP 77 Lot 89, and running on the existing charter

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line to the northwesterly corner of AP 70 Lot 35;

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     Thence northwesterly, crossing OPEN SPACE D (AP 77, Lot 89) as shown on that plat

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entitled “FINAL SUBDIVISION PLAN PHASE 2 A HUNTERS CROSSING COVENTRY, R.I.

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Scale: 1” = 80’ Date: December 21, 1995 Revision A.” which plat is recorded in the Town of

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Coventry Land Evidence Plat Book 13 at Pages 29-31, to the southeasterly corner of Record Lot

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42 (AP 77, Lot 81) as shown on said plat;

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     Thence northwesterly, bounded northeasterly by Record Lot 41 (AP 77, Lot 82) as shown

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on said plat, to a point on the southerly line of Hunters Crossing at the northwesterly corner of

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said Record Lot 41 (AP 77, Lot 82);

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     Thence northwesterly and crossing Hunters Crossing to a point at the southwesterly

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corner of Record Lot 77 (AP 77, Lot 46) as shown on said plat;

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     Thence northwesterly, bounded northeasterly by said Record Lot 77 (AP 77, Lot 46), to a

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point at the northwesterly corner of said Record Lot 77 (AP 77, Lot 46);

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     Thence northwesterly, bounded northeasterly by a portion of Record Lot 121, Record

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Lots 119, 117 and crossing a portion of OPEN SPACE lot (a portion of AP 77, Lot 117, AP 77,

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Lots 116, 115 and crossing a portion of AP 77, Lot 174) as shown on that plat entitled “FINAL

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SUBDIVISION PLAN PHASE 3 B HUNTERS CROSSING COVENTRY, R.I. Scale: 1” = 80’

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Date: December 29, 1995 Revision A.” which plat is recorded in the Town of Coventry Land

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Evidence Plat Book 13 at Pages 104-105, to a point at the southwesterly corner of Record Lot 116

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(AP 77, Lot 114) as shown on said plat;

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     Thence northerly, bounded easterly by Record Lot 116, 114, 112 and 110 (AP 77, Lots

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114, 113, 112 and 111) as shown on said plat, to a point at the northwesterly corner of Record Lot

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110 (AP 77, Lot 111) as shown on said plat;

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     Thence easterly, bounded southerly by said Record Lot 110 (AP 77, Lot 111), to a point

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at the southwesterly corner of Record Lot 108 (AP 77, Lot 110) as shown on said plat;

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     Thence northerly, bounded easterly by said Record Lot 108 (AP 77, Lot 110), to a point

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on the southerly line of Remington Farm Drive at the northwesterly corner of said Record Lot

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108 (AP 77, Lot 110);

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     Thence northeasterly and crossing Remington Farm Drive to the southwesterly corner of

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Record Lot 106 as shown on said plat (AP 77, Lot 109);

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     Thence northerly, bounded easterly by said Record Lot 106 (AP 77, Lot 109), to a point

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at the northwesterly corner of said Record Lot 106 (AP 77, Lot 109);

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     Thence easterly, bounded southerly by Record Lots 106, 105 and 103 (AP 77, Lots 109,

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108 and 107), to a point at the northeasterly corner of said Record Lot 103 (AP 77, Lot 107);

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     Thence easterly, bounded southerly by Record Lots 101, 99 and 98 (AP 77, Lots 106, 105

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and 104), to a point at the northeasterly corner of said Record Lot 98 (AP 77, Lot 104) as shown

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on that plat entitled “FINAL SUBDIVISION PLAN PHASE 3 A HUNTERS CROSSING

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COVENTRY, R.I. Scale: 1” = 80’ Date: December 29, 1995 Revision A.” which is recorded in

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the Town of Coventry Plat Book 13 at Page 103;

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     Thence northwesterly, crossing Record Lot OPEN SPACE L(a) (AP 78, Lot 6.7) as

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shown on said plat, to a point at the southeasterly corner of land now or formerly of Everett and

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Susie Kingsborough shown as Lot 12.1 on the Town of Coventry Assessor’s Plat 85;

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     Thence northeasterly to the existing charter line between the Coventry fire District and

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the Washington Lighting District at the northeasterly corner of Lot 28 as depicted on the 1972

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Assessor’s Plat 20;

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     Thence northerly along Lot 6 Plat 20 to the corner of Lots 6 and 3 Plat 20, thence in a

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straight line to the northeast corner of Lot 36 Plat 20 and the southwest corner of Lot 13 Plat 19;

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northerly along the east line of Lot 1 Plat 19 to the northwest corner of Lot 25 Plat 19 at Scituate

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town line; turning westerly along said Scituate town line to a point 300 feet east of Read School

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House Road; turning southerly along a line 300 feet east of and parallel to Read School House

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Road, crossing Route 117 and continuing to the north end of the dam of the Flat River Reservoir,

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     thence running southerly across the dam to the south end of said dam; thence running

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southerly in a straight line to a point on state highway, Route 3, 300 feet west of the intersection

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of Reservoir Road and said Route 3;

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     thence crossing said Route 3 and running southerly in a straight line to a point 500 feet

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south of the south line of said Route 3;

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     Thence turning and running easterly on a line 500 feet south of and parallel to the south

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line of said Route 3 until it comes to the westerly boundary of the former Tiogue Lighting

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District;

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     Thence northerly along the western boundary line of said former Tiogue Lighting

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District until it comes to the southern line of Route 3;

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     Thence turning and running in a northeasterly direction, crossing Route 3, to the

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northeast corner of said Route 3 and Hopkins Hill Road; thence easterly in a straight line to the

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intersection of said Route 3 and Arnold Road; thence turning and running northerly in a straight

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line, across the Pawtuxet River, to the northeast abutment of the railroad bridge and the point of

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beginning, all such land being previously known as the Washington Lighting District is hereby

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incorporated into a consolidated district to be called the “Central Coventry fFire dDistrict.”

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     Said district may have a common seal, sue and be sued, and enjoy the other powers

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generally incident to a corporation.

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     Sec 2. QUALIFIED VOTERS

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     The inhabitants of said district who are qualified voters in the town of Coventry shall be

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eligible to vote and act in meetings of the corporation.

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     Sec. 3. FIRST CONSOLIDATED DISTRICT MEETING AND ANNUAL MEETINGS

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OF THE CONSOLIDATED FIRE DISTRICT.

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     The first meeting of said fire district shall be holden on the third Monday in June next

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ensuing, at a place in said district to be named in the notice of said meeting.

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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) 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. Commencing in the year 1991 and annually

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thereafter said annual meeting shall be held on the second Wednesday in April. Fifteen (15)

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Twenty five (25) qualified voters shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any

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meeting of the corporation.

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     Commencing in 2007 and continuing annually thereafter, the district shall hold an annual

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meeting in a public place on the second Monday in September, at 7:00 P.M. at such place within

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the District as the Board shall determine, for the purposes of: (1) electing a Board of Directors;

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(2) authorizing the assessment of all the taxable personal and real property of the District; (3)

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authorizing the collection of taxes, as further set forth in Section 6 hereunder; (4) authorizing an

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annual budget to provide for the purchase and maintenance of equipment, apparatus, real and

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personal property, the payment of wages and salaries, and for such other expenditures deemed

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

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necessary and proper by either the Board of Directors or qualified voters of the district.

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     (c) Call of the Meeting:

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     Seven (7) days notice of said meeting, stating the time, place, and purpose thereof and

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signed by five (5) or more of the qualified voters of said district, shall be given by posting the

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same in three (3) or more public places in said district, at least one (l) week before said meeting,

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and by publishing the same for at least one (1) week prior to said meeting, and by publishing the

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same for at least one (1) week prior to said meeting in some newspaper published in the county of

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Kent.

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     At said meeting the question "Shall the Central Coventry fire district be established

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according to the act of incorporation passed by the general assembly of the state?" shall be

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submitted. All persons possessing the qualifications set forth in section 2 of this act shall be

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entitled to vote on said question. If a majority of the persons so voting shall vote "yes", then. said

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Central Coventry fire district shall be established, according to the provisions of this act;

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otherwise this act shall become null and void.

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     The Clerk of the District shall give notice of the annual meetings by causing a copy

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thereof to be posted at least twice in some newspaper distributed in Kent County, and posted in

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each fire station of the District not less than sixty (60) days prior to the meeting date.

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     The annual meeting and all other meetings of the District shall be held in a public place,

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which shall be accessible to the handicapped, pursuant to the requirements of the Rhode Island

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Constitution, Article 1 & 2 and 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. Said qualified

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voters may hold special meetings which, as well as the annual meetings, shall be called and notice

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given in such a manner as the qualified voters may prescribe. It shall be the duty of the clerk to

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call a special meeting upon written application signed by twelve (12) or more qualified voters.

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

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

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

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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     Said qualified voters, at each annual meeting, and at any other meetings when vacancies

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occur, may elect such officers as are deemed necessary for the efficient operation of said fire

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district. The duties of these officers shall be specified in the by-laws 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) The clerk of the District shall post in a conspicuous place a list of all persons certified

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to stand for election and the office to which each person seeks election in at least eight (8) public

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places within the district, including all actively used District stations, at least twenty (20) days

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prior to the annual meeting or any other special meeting called for the election 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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     (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 for a period of up to sixty (60) days.

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

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president shall call a special meeting of the District for the purpose of electing a qualified elector

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to fill the office vacated for the remainder of the original term of office. Said special meeting

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shall be held within sixty-five (65) days from the date such original vacancy occurs.

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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

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of the bond of the Treasurer and the Tax Collector; (2) Order payment of the district’s bills and

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indebtedness; (3) Be in charge of and supervise the care of the district’s properties; (4) Cause

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district property to be insured; (5) Purchase equipment, property and apparatus as required by the

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District’s needs and budget; (6) Appoint an Administrative 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 shall

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have all necessary authority to operate and conduct the business of the District as necessary, all

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within the bounds of the laws of the State of Rhode Island. The Board of Directors shall have the

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power to appoint and/or employ a tax assessor, tax collector, treasurer, clerk, and other

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committees and/or positions deemed necessary for the efficient operation of the 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 of said District shall preside at all annual and special meetings as

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moderator; in his/her absence the vice president shall serve as moderator; in the absence of both,

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a temporary moderator may be elected by a majority of voters 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.

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     Sec. 6. 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 making cisterns and reservoirs; for paying the salaries of district officers and

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employees, firemen. as well as the members of the rescue unit known as Central Coventry

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

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taxable inhabitants and property therein according to the last valuation made by the assessors of

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the town of Coventry next previous to said assessment, adding, however, any taxable property

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which may have been omitted by said town assessors or afterwards acquired; and in assessing and

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collecting said taxes such proceedings shall be had by the officers of said district, as near as may

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be, as are required to be had by the corresponding officers of towns in assessing and collecting

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taxes.; provided, however, that the tax assessed and payable in any one year under the provisions

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of this section shall not exceed six (6) mills an each dollar of valuation.

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     (b) The qualified voters of the Central Coventry Ffire Ddistrict are also authorized to

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raise money through taxes to purchase the necessary vehicles and equipment to operate and

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maintain a 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

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

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

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

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Coventry next previous to said assessment.

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     Sec. 7. Entire section deleted 1992

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     See. 8. Entire section 8 deleted 1992

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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 shall keep full, fair and accurate records and minutes of the meetings of the Board of

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Directors and district meetings and shall make said minutes available to members of the public, in

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accordance with the Rhode Island Public Records Act, Chapter 2 of Title 38 of the Rhode Island

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General Laws. The Clerk shall be responsible to give notice of District meetings as set forth

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under the provisions of this Charter and pursuant to the Rhode Island Open Meetings Laws,

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Chapter 46 of Title 42 of the Rhode Island General Laws. The clerk shall maintain a current copy

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of the District Charter and 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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     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.

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     Sec. 9. 11 BY-LAWS

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     The qualified voters of said district may enact all by-laws by them adjudged necessary

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and expedient for carrying the provisions of this act into effect, provided the same be not in

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violation of or repugnant to the laws of this state.

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     The qualified voters may change any provision of the by-laws at any annual or special

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meeting, provided the proposed change has been noticed in the call of the meeting.

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     Sec. 10. 12 AUTHORIZATION TO BORROW FUNDS

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      _____________________________________________

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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 the sum of three

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hundred thousand ($300,000) dollars one-half (1/2) of the annual operating budget, for the

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

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procuring of fire and water apparatus, for the payment of any legal indebtedness of said district,

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or for the purpose of purchasing or procuring any other property, real or personal, that may be

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legally acquired and held by said district.

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     Sec. 10A. 13 The Central Coventry fire district is authorized to install lighting on the

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streets and highways of the district.

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     Sec. 14. PRESERVATION OF RIGHTS UNDER EXISTING LABOR CONTRACTS

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     In accordance with the provision of Section 19.1 of Chapter 7, Title 28 of the Rhode

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Island General Laws, this act of consolidation shall not impair the provisions of any existing labor

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contracts for persons employed by any of the individual fire districts. Notwithstanding this

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consolidation, the labor contracts shall continue in full force and effect until their termination

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dates or until otherwise agreed by the parties or their legal successors.

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     Sec. 11 15. This act shall take effect no later than sixty 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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LC03565

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