2012 -- S 2632

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LC02023

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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A N A C T

AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF COVENTRY TO FINANCE AIR QUALITY AND ENERGY

EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS AND OTHER REPAIRS AND RENOVATIONS TO

SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND OTHER MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS IN THE TOWN AND ALL

ATTENDANT EXPENSES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ENGINEERING COSTS,

BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $5,000,000 BONDS, NOTES AND/OR OTHER

EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS THEREFOR

     Introduced By: Senators Shibley, and Kettle

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2012

     Referred To: Senate Finance

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. The town of Coventry is hereby empowered, in addition to authority

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previously granted, to issue bonds, notes and other evidences of indebtedness (hereinafter

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“bonds”) up to an amount not exceeding five million dollars ($5,000,000) from time to time

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under its corporate name and seal or a facsimile of such. The bonds of each issue may be issued

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in the form of serial bonds or term bonds or a combination thereof and shall be payable either by

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maturity of principal in the case of serial bonds or by mandatory sinking fund installments in the

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case of term bonds, in annual installments of principal, the first installment to be not later than

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five (5) years and the last installment not later than thirty (30) years after the date of the bonds.

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All such bonds of a particular issue may be issued in the form of zero coupon bonds, capital

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appreciation bonds, serial bonds or term bonds or a combination thereof. The amount of principal

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appreciation each year on any bonds, after the date of original issuance, shall not be considered to

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be principal indebtedness for the purposes of any constitutional or statutory debt limit or any

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other limitation. The appreciation of principal after the date of original issue shall be considered

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interest. Only the original principal amount shall be counted in determining the principal amount

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so issued and any interest component shall be disregarded.

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     SECTION 2. The bonds shall be signed by the manual or facsimile signatures of the town

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director of finance and the president of the town council and shall be issued and sold in such

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amounts as the town council may authorize by resolution. The manner of sale, denominations,

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maturities, interest rates and other terms, conditions and details of any bonds or notes issued

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under this act may be fixed by the proceedings of the town council authorizing the issue or by

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separate resolution of the town council or, to the extent provisions for these matters are not so

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made, they may be fixed by the officers authorized to sign the bonds. Notwithstanding anything

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contained in this act to the contrary, the town may enter into financing agreements with the

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Rhode Island Health and Educational Building Corporation pursuant to title 16 chapter 7 and title

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45 chapter 38.1 of the general laws and, with respect to notes or bonds issued in connection with

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such financing agreements, if any, the town may elect to have the provisions of title 45, chapter

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38.1 of the general laws apply to the issuance of the bonds or notes issued hereunder to the extent

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the provisions of title 45, chapter 38.1 of the general laws are inconsistent herewith. Such election

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may be fixed by the proceedings of the town council authorizing such issuance of by separate

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resolution of the town council, or, to the extent provisions for these matters are not so made, they

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may be fixed by the officers authorized to sign the bonds or notes. The proceeds derived from the

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sale of the bonds shall be delivered to the town director of finance, and such proceeds exclusive

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of premiums and accrued interest shall be expended: (a) for air quality and energy efficiency

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improvements and other repairs and renovations to school buildings and other municipal

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buildings in the town and all attendant expenses, including but not limited to engineering costs;

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(b) in payment of the principal of or interest on temporary notes issued under section 3; (c) in

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repayment of advances under section 4; (d) in payment of related costs of issuance of any bonds

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or notes; and/or (e) in payment of capitalized interest during construction of the project (the

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“project”). No purchaser of any bonds or notes under this act shall be in any way responsible for

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the proper application of the proceeds derived from the sale thereof. The project shall be carried

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out and all contracts made therefor on behalf of the town by the town council, for school projects,

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the town council may delegate such authority to the town school committee. The proceeds of

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bonds or notes issued under this act, may applicable federal or state assistance and the other

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monies referred to in sections 6 and 9 shall be deemed appropriated for the purposes of this act

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without further action than that required by this act. The bonds authorized by this act may be

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consolidated for the purpose of issuance and sale with any other bonds of the town heretofore or

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hereafter authorized, provided that, notwithstanding any such consolidation, the proceeds from

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the sale of the bonds authorized by this act shall be expended for the purposes set forth above.

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     SECTION 3. The town council may by resolution authorize the issuance from time to

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time of interest bearing or discounted notes in anticipation of the issuance of bonds or in

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anticipation of the receipt of federal or state aid for the purposes of this act. The amount of

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original notes issued in anticipation of bonds may not exceed the amount of bonds which may be

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issued under this act and the amount of original notes issued in anticipation of federal or state aid

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may not exceed the amount of available federal or state aid as estimated by the director of

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finance. Temporary notes issued hereunder shall be signed by the manual or facsimile signatures

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of the town director of finance and the president of the town council and shall be payable within

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five (5) years from their respective dates, but the principal of and interest on notes issued for a

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shorter period may be renewed or paid from time to time by the issuance of other notes

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hereunder, provided the period from the date of an original note to the maturity of any note issued

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to renew or pay the same debt or interest thereon shall not exceed five (5) years. Any temporary

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notes in anticipation of bonds issued under this section may be refunded prior to the maturity of

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the notes by the issuance of additional temporary notes, provided that no such refunding shall

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result in any amount of such temporary notes outstanding at any one time in excess of two

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hundred percent (200%) of the amount of bonds which may be issued under this act, and

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provided further that if the issuance of any such refunding notes results in any amount of such

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temporary notes outstanding at any one time in excess of the amount of bonds which may be

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issued under this act, the proceeds of such refunding notes shall be deposited in a separate fund

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established with the bank which is paying agent for the notes being refunded. Pending their use

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to pay the notes being refunded, moneys in the fund shall be invested for the benefit of the town

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by the paying agent at the direction of the town director of finance in any investment permitted

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under section 5. The moneys in the fund and any investments held as part of the fund shall be

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held in trust and shall be be applied by the paying agent solely to the payment or prepayment of

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the principal of an interest on the notes being refunded. Upon payment of all principal of and

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interest on the notes, any excess moneys in the fund shall be distributed to the town. The town

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may pay the principal of and interest on notes in full from other than the issuance of refunding

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notes prior to the issuance of bonds pursuant to section 1 hereof. In such case, the town’s

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authority to issue bonds or notes in anticipation of bonds under this act shall continue provided

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that (1) the town council passes a resolution evidencing the town’s intent to pay off the notes

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without extinguishing the authority to issue bonds or notes and (2) that the period from the date of

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an original note to the maturity date of any other note shall not exceed five (5) years.

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SECTION 4. Pending any authorization or issue of bonds hereunder or pending or in lieu

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of any authorization or issue of notes hereunder, the town director of finance, with the approval of

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the town council, may, to the extent that bonds or notes may be issued hereunder, apply funds in

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the treasury of the town to the purposes specified in section 2, such advances to be repaid

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without interest from the proceeds of bonds or notes subsequently issued or from the proceeds of

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applicable federal or state assistance or from other available funds.

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     SECTION 5. Any proceeds of bonds or notes issued hereunder or of any applicable

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federal or state assistance, pending their expenditure may be deposited or invested by the town

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director of finance in demand deposits, time deposits or savings deposits in banks which are

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members of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or in obligations issued or guaranteed by

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the United States of America or by any agency or instrumentality thereof or as may be provided

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in any other applicable law of the State of Rhode Island or resolution of the town council or

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pursuant to an investment policy of the town.

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     SECTION 6. Any accrued interest received upon the sale of bonds or notes hereunder

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shall be applied to the payment of the first interest due thereon. Any premium arising from the

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sale of bonds or notes hereunder shall, in the discretion of the town director of finance, be

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applied to the cost of preparing, issuing and marketing bonds or notes hereunder to the extent not

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otherwise provided, to the payment of the project costs, to the payment of the principal of or

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interest on bonds or notes issued hereunder or to any one or more of the foregoing. The cost of

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preparing, issuing and marketing bonds or notes hereunder may also, in the discretion of the town

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director of finance, be met from bond or note proceeds exclusive of accrued interest or from

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other moneys available therefore. Any balance of bond or note process remaining after payment

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of the cost of the projects and the cost of preparing, issuing and marketing bonds or notes

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hereunder, shall be applied to the payment of the principal of or interest on bonds or notes issued

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hereunder. To the extent permitted by applicable federal laws, any earnings or net profit realized

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from the deposit or investment of funds hereunder may, upon receipt, be added to and dealt with

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as part of the revenues of the town from property taxes. In exercising any discretion under this

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section, the town director of finance shall be governed by any instructions adopted by resolution

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of the town council.

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     SECTION 7. All bonds and notes issued under this act and the debts evidenced thereby

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shall be obligatory on the town in the same manner and to the same extent as other debts lawfully

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contracted by it and shall be excepted from the operation of section 45-12-2 of the general laws.

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No such obligation shall at any time be included in the debt of the town for the purpose of

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ascertaining its borrowing capacity. The town shall annually appropriate a sum sufficient to pay

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the principal and interest coming due within the year on bonds and notes issued hereunder to the

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extent that moneys therefor are not otherwise provided. If such sum is not appropriated, it shall

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nevertheless be added to the annual tax levy. In order to provide such sum in each year and

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notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, all taxable property in the town shall be

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subject to ad valorem taxation by the town without limitation as to rate or amount.

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     SECTION 8. Any bonds or notes issued under the provisions of this act, and coupons, if

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any, if properly executed by officers of the town in office on the date of execution, shall be valid

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and binding according to their terms notwithstanding that before the delivery thereof and payment

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therefor any or all of such officers shall for any reason have ceased to hold office.

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     SECTION 9. The town, acting by resolution of its town council, is authorized to apply

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for, contract for and expend any federal or state advances or other grants or assistance which may

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be available for the purposes of this act, and any such expenditures may be in addition to the

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moneys provided in this act. To the extent of any inconsistency between any law of this state and

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any applicable federal law or regulation, the latter shall prevail. Federal and state advances, with

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interest where applicable, whether contracted for prior to or after the effective date of this act,

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may be repaid as project costs under section 2.

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     SECTION 10. Bonds and notes may be issued under this act without obtaining the

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approval of any governmental agency or the taking of any proceedings or the happening of any

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conditions except as specifically required by this act for such issue. In carrying out any project

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financed in whole or in part under this act, including where applicable the condemnation of any

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land or interest in land, and in the levy and collection of assessments or other charges permitted

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by law on account of any such project, all action shall be taken which is necessary to meet

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constitutional requirements whether or not such action is otherwise required by statute, but the

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validity of bonds and notes issued hereunder shall in no way depend upon the validity or

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occurrence of such action.

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     SECTION 11. The town director of finance and the president of the town council, on

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behalf of the town, are hereby authorized to execute such instruments, documents or other papers

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as either of them deem necessary or desirable to carry out the intent of this act and are also

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authorized to take all actions and execute all instruments, documents or agreements necessary to

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comply with federal tax and securities laws, which instruments, documents or agreements may

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have a term coextensive with the maturity of the bonds authorized hereby, including Rule 1 5c2-

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12 of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Rule”) and to execute and deliver a

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continuing disclosure agreement or certificate in connection with the bonds or notes in the form

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as shall be deemed advisable by such officers in order to comply with the Rule.

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     SECTION 12. All or any portion of the authorized but unissued authority to issue bonds

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and notes under this act may be extinguished by ordinance of the town council, without further

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action by the general assembly.

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     SECTION 13. At a general, special or local election (other than a primary) to be held on

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a date that shall be designated by the town council, there shall be submitted to electors of the

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town a question in substantially the following form: “Shall an act passed at the 2012 session of

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the general assembly entitled ‘An act authorizing the town of Coventry to finance air quality and

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energy efficiency improvements and other repairs and renovations to school buildings and other

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municipal buildings in the town and all attendant expenses, including but not limited to

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engineering costs, by the issuance of not more than $5,000,000 bonds, notes and/or other

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evidences of indebtedness therefor’ be approved?” and the warning for the election shall contain

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the question to be submitted. From the time the election is warned and until it is held, it shall be

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the duty of the town clerk to keep a copy of this act available at the clerk’s office for public

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inspection, but the validity of the election shall not be affected by this requirement. To the extent

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of any inconsistency between this act and the town charter, this act shall prevail.

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     SECTION 14. This act shall constitute an enabling act of the general assembly that is

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required pursuant to section 16-7-44 of chapter 7 of title 16 of the general laws. Any bonds, notes

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or other evidences of indebtedness issued under this act for school projects shall not be eligible

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for state aid reimbursement pursuant to section 16-7-44 of chapter 7 of title 16 of the general laws

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unless the school projects described herein have been approved by the Rhode Island Department

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of Education and the Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education.

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     SECTION 15. Sections 13 and 15 shall take effect upon the passage of this act. The

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remainder of this act shall take effect upon the approval of this act by a majority of those voting

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on the question at the election prescribed by section 13.

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LC02023

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EXPLANATION

OF

A N A C T

AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF COVENTRY TO FINANCE AIR QUALITY AND ENERGY

EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS AND OTHER REPAIRS AND RENOVATIONS TO

SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND OTHER MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS IN THE TOWN AND ALL

ATTENDANT EXPENSES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ENGINEERING COSTS,

BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $5,000,000 BONDS, NOTES AND/OR OTHER

EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS THEREFOR

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     This act authorizes the town of Coventry to issue not more than $5,000,000 bonds and

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notes to finance air quality and energy efficiency improvements and other repairs and renovations

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to school buildings and other municipal buildings in the town and all attendant expenses,

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including but not limited to engineering costs. Any bonds or notes issued under this act shall not

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be eligible for state aid reimbursement pursuant to section 16-7-44 of chapter 7 of title 16 of the

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general laws unless the projects described herein have been approved by the Rhode Island

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Department of Education and the Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education.

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     Sections 13 and 15 of this act would take effect upon passage. The remainder of the act

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would take effect upon approval by the electors of the town of the question provided for in

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section 13.

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LC02023

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