2013 -- H 6079

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LC02473

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO THE CENTRAL COVENTRY FIRE DISTRICT

     Introduced By: Representatives Morgan, and Chippendale

     Date Introduced: May 02, 2013

     Referred To: House Municipal Government

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. There shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the Central Coventry

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Fire District for their approval the following non-binding referendum question: “Shall the General

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Assembly enact a new charter for the fire district, the text of which proposed new charter is

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attached as Exhibit A?”. Said non-binding referendum shall be held on May 16, 2013.

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     EXHIBIT A

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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 Potterville 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. In addition, all those parts of the Town of Coventry

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within the following boundaries of the entities known as the Harris Fire & Lighting District and

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the Tiogue Fire District, and the 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 Coventry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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, and, all that land beginning at a point in the boundary line between the

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Towns of Coventry and West Warwick, 800 feet south of the southerly line of Tiogue Avenue

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(Route 3 state highway); thence turning and running westerly, bounded northerly by the Coventry

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fire 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 and all that land beginning at the northeast abutment of

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the railroad bridge, called the Knotty Oak Bridge, and running northerly to the southeast corner of

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the Rathbun Cemetery and continuing in the same straight line until it comes to the seven and ten

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line, so called, thence turning and running westerly following the seven and ten line until it comes

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

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line 500 feet east of and parallel to the east line of Station Street; thence turning and running

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northerly on a line 500 feet east of and parallel to the east line of Station Street, until it comes to a

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point at the southwest corner of lot 4 as depicted on the Town of Coventry 1972 Assessor’s Plat

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21, said point being on the southerly line of Record Lot 8 (AP 69, Lot 49) as shown on that plat

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entitled “SUBDIVISION PLAN OF HIGHWOOD SECTION NO. 4 SITUATED IN

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

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Land Evidence Plat Book 7 at Page 22; thence westerly, bounded northerly by a portion of

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Record Lot 8 (AP 69, Lot 49) and Record Lot 6 (AP 69, Lot 48) as shown on said plat, to a point

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at the 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 at the 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; thence northeasterly,

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bounded southeasterly in part by Record Lot 3 (AP 69, Lot 25) and in part by Record Lot 5 (AP

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69, Lot 24) as shown on said plat, to a point at the southwesterly corner of Record Lot 50 (AP 69,

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Lot 90) as shown on that plat entitled “RECORD PLAN PHASE 3 Highwood Subdivision A

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RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION LOCATED IN COVENTRY, R.I. PREPARED BY DiPrete

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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 14 at Page 66; thence northeasterly, bounded

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southeasterly by Record Lot 50 (AP 59, Lot 90) as shown on said plat, to a point on the southerly

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line of Ginger Trail at the northwesterly corner of Record Lot 50 (AP 69, Lot 90) as shown on

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said plat; 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; thence northwesterly, bounded

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northeasterly in part by Record Lot 20 (AP 69, Lot 104) and crossing Record Lot 68 (AP 69, Lot

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

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entitled “RECORD PLAN PHASE 4 Highwood Subdivision A RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION

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LOCATED IN COVENTRY, R.I. PREPARED BY DiPrete Engineering Associates, Inc.

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ENGINEERING, SURVEYING AND PLANNING CONSULTANTS 75 SOCKANOSSET

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CROSSROAD, SUITE 300 CRANSTON, R.I. 02920 (401) 943-1000 FAX: (401) 464-6006

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JULY, 1995 Scale: 1” = 60’.” which plan is recorded in the Town of Coventry Land Evidence

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Plat Book 15 at Page 72; thence northeasterly, bounded northwesterly by Record Lot 11 (AP 69,

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

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Lot 116) as shown on said plat; thence southeasterly, bounded northeasterly by (AP 69 Lot 35), to

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a point at the southeasterly corner of (AP 69 Lot 35), said point also being on the existing charter

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line; 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); thence

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easterly, bounded northerly by AP 77 Lots 90 and 89, and running on the existing charter line to

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the southwesterly corner of (AP 70 Lot 35); thence northerly, bounded westerly by (AP 77 Lot

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89), and running on the existing charter line to the northwesterly corner of (AP 70 Lot 35); thence

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

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SUBDIVISION PLAN PHASE 2 A HUNTERS CROSSING COVENTRY, R.I. Scale: 1” = 80’

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Date: December 21, 1995 Revision A.” which plat is recorded in the Town of Coventry Land

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Evidence Plat Book 13 at Pages 29-31, to the southeasterly corner of Record Lot 42 (AP 77, Lot

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81) as shown on said plat; thence northwesterly, bounded northeasterly by Record Lot 41 (AP 77,

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Lot 82) as shown on said plat, to a point on the southerly line of Hunters Crossing at the

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northwesterly corner of said Record Lot 41 (AP 77, Lot 82); thence northwesterly and crossing

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Hunters Crossing to a point at the southwesterly corner of Record Lot 77 (AP 77, Lot 46) as

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shown on said plat; thence northwesterly, bounded northeasterly by said Record Lot 77 (AP 77,

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

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northwesterly, bounded northeasterly by a portion of Record Lot 121, Record Lots 119, 117 and

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crossing a portion of OPEN SPACE lot (a portion of AP 77, Lot 117, AP 77, Lots 116, 115 and

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crossing a portion of AP 77, Lot 174) as shown on that plat entitled “FINAL SUBDIVISION

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

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29, 1995 Revision A.” which plat is recorded in the Town of Coventry Land Evidence Plat Book

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13 at Pages 104-105, to a point at the southwesterly corner of Record Lot 116 (AP 77, Lot 114) as

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shown on said plat; thence northerly, bounded easterly by Record Lot 116, 114, 112 and 110 (AP

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

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Record Lot 110 (AP 77, Lot 111) as shown on said plat; thence easterly, bounded southerly by

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said Record Lot 110 (AP 77, Lot 111), to a point at the southwesterly corner of Record Lot 108

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(AP 77, Lot 110) as shown on said plat; thence northerly, bounded easterly by said Record Lot

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108 (AP 77, Lot 110), to a point on the southerly line of Remington Farm Drive at the

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northwesterly corner of said Record Lot 108 (AP 77, Lot 110); thence northeasterly and crossing

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Remington Farm Drive to the southwesterly corner of Record Lot 106 as shown on said plat (AP

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

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

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bounded southerly by Record Lots 106, 105 and 103 (AP 77, Lots 109, 108 and 107), to a point at

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the northeasterly corner of said Record Lot 103 (AP 77, Lot 107); thence easterly, bounded

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southerly by Record Lots 101, 99 and 98 (AP 77, Lots 106, 105 and 104), to a point at the

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northeasterly corner of said Record Lot 98 (AP 77, Lot 104) as shown on that plat entitled

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“FINAL SUBDIVISION PLAN PHASE 3 A HUNTERS CROSSING COVENTRY, R.I. Scale:

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1” = 80’ Date: December 29, 1995 Revision A.” which is recorded in the Town of Coventry Plat

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Book 13 at Page 103; thence northwesterly, crossing Record Lot OPEN SPACE L(a) (AP 78, Lot

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6.7) as shown on said plat, to a point at the southeasterly corner of land now or formerly of

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Everett and 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 the

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

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Assessor’s Plat 20; thence northerly along Lot 6 Plat 20 to the corner of Lots 6 and 3 Plat 20,

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thence in a straight line to the northeast corner of Lot 36 Plat 20 and the southwest corner of Lot

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13 Plat 19; northerly along the east line of Lot 1 Plat 19 to the northwest corner of Lot 25 Plat 19

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

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

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School House Road, crossing Route 117 and continuing to the north end of the dam of the Flat

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

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

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intersection of Reservoir Road and said Route 3; thence crossing said Route 3 and running

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southerly in a straight line to a point 500 feet south of the south line of said Route 3; thence

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

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3 until it comes to the westerly boundary of the former Tiogue Lighting District; thence northerly

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along the western boundary line of said former Tiogue Lighting District until it comes to the

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southern line of Route 3; thence turning and running in a northeasterly direction, crossing Route

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

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

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

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

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hereby incorporated into a consolidated district to be called the Coventry Main Fire District. Said

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

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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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      (a) 2006 - First consolidated meeting: Commencing in the year 2013 a special meeting of

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the consolidated district shall be held within thirty (30) days of the enactment of this Charter by

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and among the Boards of Directors of the Coventry Main Fire District, for the purposes of

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constituting the first Board of Directors of the consolidated district, in accordance with Section 5

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herein and for adopting the initial by-laws for the Consolidated District.

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      (b) Annual Meetings & Quorum: Annual meetings of said fire district for the election of

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officers and the transaction of any other business of the fire district shall be held. In addition, the

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electors at the annual meeting shall adopt a budget for the next fiscal year commencing July 1

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through June 30. One hundred (100) qualified voters shall constitute a quorum for the transaction

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of business at any meeting of the corporation. Commencing in 2014 and continuing annually

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thereafter, the district shall hold an annual meeting in a public place other than a fire station on

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the third Thursday in May, at 7:00 P.M. at such place within the District as the Board shall

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determine, for the purposes of: (1) electing a Board of Directors; (2) authorizing the assessment

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of all the taxable personal and real property of the District; (3) authorizing the collection of taxes,

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as further set forth in Section 6 hereunder; (4) authorizing an annual budget to provide for the

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purchase and maintenance of equipment, apparatus, real and personal property, the payment of

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wages and salaries, and for such other expenditures deemed necessary by the qualified voters of

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the District; and (5) For such other lawful purposes deemed necessary and proper by either the

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Board of Directors or qualified voters of the district. Any member of the Board of Directors may

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be recalled and removed from office by the electors at any annual or special meeting. In order to

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recall any member of the Board of Directors three-quarters (3/4) of the majority of those electors

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present and voting for recall shall be required. In the event of a vacancy occurring on the Board a

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special meeting shall be called by the Board of Directors within thirty (30) days or occurrence of

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such vacancy which meeting shall be held sixty (60) days from the date the Board of Directors

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shall call for such a special meeting in order to fill said vacancy.

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      (c) Call of the Meeting: The Clerk of the District shall give notice of the annual meetings

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by causing a copy thereof to be posted at least twice in two newspapers distributed in Kent

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County, on one electronic newspaper if available in the Town of Coventry, and on the Web sites

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for the fire district, the Town of Coventry, and the Secretary of State and displayed on a sign

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board in each fire station of the District, and a notice included with the mailing of tax invoices not

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less than sixty (60) days prior to the meeting date. The annual meeting and all other meetings of

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the District shall be held in a public place, which shall be accessible to the handicapped, pursuant

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to the requirements of the Rhode Island Constitution, Article 1 & 2 and applicable federal and

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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 one hundred

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

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

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

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

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

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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 five (5) directors, which shall be

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elected as follows: an election shall be conducted at the first meeting of the Coventry Main Fire

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District which shall be held in accordance with section 3a at which the Board of Directors shall

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be elected as follows: The three (3) individuals who shall received the highest number of votes

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shall serve for a period of two years with the two (2) individuals receiving the next two (2) next

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highest number of votes who will serve for a period of one (1) year.

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      (b) Thereafter, two (2) Directors will be elected to a two (2) year term at the 2014 annual

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meeting and every second year thereafter. Three (3) directors shall be elected at the 2015 annual

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meeting and every second year thereafter.

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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 fifty (50) 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. No employee of the district or member of the employee’s family shall be qualified to

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serve as a director. Family shall be defined as the employee’s spouse, any of the employee’s

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children, whether by blood, adoption, or marriage or the employee’s father, mother, brother,

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sister, grandfather, grandmother, grandson, granddaughter, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-

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in-law, sister-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter,

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stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, or half-sister.

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      (d) No Director shall serve more than three (3) consecutive two (2) -year terms.

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      (e) The clerk of the District shall post in all places where posting is required for an annual

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meeting a list of all persons certified to stand for election and the office to which each person

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seeks election in at least eight (8) public places within the district, including all actively used

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District stations, at least twenty (20) days prior to the annual meeting or any other special meeting

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called for the election of officers.

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      (f) 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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      (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 in accordance with the by-laws. No less than one half (1/2) of the

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members of the Board of 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 such employees or individuals, and other committees

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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.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, as well as the members of the rescue unit known as the Coventry Main Fire District

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and such taxes, so ordered, shall be assessed by the assessors of said district on the taxable

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

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of Coventry next previous to said assessment, adding, however, any taxable property which may

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

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

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required to be had by the corresponding officers of towns in assessing and collecting taxes;

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provided however that the total tax levy assessed for any one year shall not exceed four (4)

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percent of the prior year’s total tax levy. The Corporation shall not have the authority to create

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any tax classifications with respect to the property being taxed for the collection of the above

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referenced levy, nor shall the Corporation have the authority to enact or adopt any supplemental

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tax.

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      (b) The qualified voters of the Coventry Main 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 Coventry Main Fire District . The Fire District shall be authorized

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to contract or employ with a private entity to provide such service.

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      (c) TAX ASSESSOR. There shall be at least one District Tax Assessor, who may also

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serve as District Clerk, who shall be appointed or employed by the District. The tax assessor shall

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

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

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

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the assessors of the Town of Coventry next previous to said assessment.

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      Sec. 8. POWER TO CONTRACT

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      In addition to all other powers vested in the Corporation hereunder, the Corporation shall

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have the right to employ or contract with any other entity or individual, public or private, for the

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purpose of providing the services to be performed or rendered by the Corporation to the

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inhabitants of the District hereunder.

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      Sec. 9. AUDITS

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      The Corporation shall be required to conduct an annual financial audit with respect to all

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financial matters. In connection with performing said audit, the Corporation shall contract with a

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private vendor qualified to perform audit in order to conduct the annual audit of the Corporation’s

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finances required hereunder.

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      Sec. 10. TEN-YEAR ACTUARIAL STUDY

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     With respect to all public and private labor contracts the Corporation shall be required to perform

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a ten(10)-year actuarial study prior to entering into any new contract in order to ensure that the

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cost of said contract will not result in unbalanced approved annual budget.

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      Sec. 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. The by-laws which are enacted for the District

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may provide for employing or contracting with any entity in order to provide services for the

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District, including providing for any employees of the district such as the tax collector, district

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clerk, and district treasurer. The qualified voters may change any provision of the by-laws at any

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annual or special meeting, provided the proposed change has been noticed in the call of the

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meeting.

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      Sec. 12. AUTHORIZATION TO BORROW FUNDS

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     The Coventry Main 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. In no event shall the total debt of the

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Corporation exceed a sum equal to ten (10) percent 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. 13 The Coventry Main Fire District is authorized to install lighting on the streets and

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highways of the district.

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      Sec. 14. This charter may be amended by the electors of the District by following the

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procedures outlined hereunder. In the event the Board of Directors or the electors at an annual or

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special meeting shall propose to amend this charter, the electors at a special meeting shall elect a

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five (5)-member charter review commission in order to review the existing charter and any

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proposed amendments. If said charter review commission shall recommend the passage of any

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proposed amendments, the commission shall cause to be published notice of such proposed

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amendments in the same manner as prescribed for calling an annual meeting. Said notice shall

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include the text of any proposed amendments to the charter. Any such proposed amendments

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shall be voted on at the annual meeting of electors and shall require a two-third (2/3) vote of the

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electors present and voting in favor of any such proposed amendment in order to approve

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amendments for submission and ratification by the General Assembly.

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      Sec. 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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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC02473

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO THE CENTRAL COVENTRY FIRE DISTRICT

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     This act would submit a proposed new charter for the Central Coventry Fire District to

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the electors of that district at a non-binding referendum, to be held on May 16, 2013.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC02473

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