2025 -- H 6298

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LC002803

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO AUTHORIZING THE AMENDMENT OF THE WARWICK CITY CHARTER

TO ALLOW FOR ELECTRONIC NOTICE OF SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETINGS, RAISING

THE SMALL PROCUREMENT DOLLAR THRESHOLD BY ORDINANCE, AND

ESTABLISHING MINORITY REPRESENTATION APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND

COMMISSIONS VIA ORDINANCE

     Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Shekarchi, Shanley, Read, and Hopkins

     Date Introduced: May 02, 2025

     Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Pursuant to the request of the Warwick City Council by resolution adopted

on April 22, 2025, Article 2, Section 10, of the Warwick City Charter, is hereby amended to read

as follows:

     Article 2, Section 10 - CITY COUNCIL – Notice of special meetings.

     Notice of a special meeting shall be served in person upon, electronically, or left at the

usual place of residence of each member of the council and the mayor at least 48 hours previous to

the time of such meeting. The council may meet upon shorter notice at times of emergency.

     SECTION 2. Pursuant to the request of the Warwick City Council by resolution adopted

on April 22, 2025, Article 6, Section 12, of the Warwick City Charter, is hereby amended to read

as follows:

     Article 6, Section 12 -- DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE -- Purchases in excess of $1,000.

Small Purchases.

     All purchases and contracts in excess of one thousand ($1,000) dollars and not exceeding

twenty-five hundred ($2,500) dollars, or such other amounts as may be prescribed by ordinance

and allowed by the state, shall be awarded by the purchasing agent to the lowest responsible bidder

after such public notice and competition as may be prescribed by council ordinance. The purchasing

agent shall have the right to reject any or all bids and advertise for new bids. A series of orders for

the same project shall be construed to be one order or contract and the finance department shall

disapprove the same as circumventing the requirements of this Charter for competitive bidding.

The acceptance of any bid for a contract in excess of twenty-five hundred ($2,500) dollars or such

other amounts as may be prescribed by ordinance and allowed by the state, shall be subject to the

approval of the city council and shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. Alterations in

any contract may be made when authorized by the council upon the recommendation of the mayor.

     SECTION 3. Pursuant to the request of the Warwick City Council by resolution adopted

on April 22, 2025, Article 10, Section 24, of the Warwick City Charter, is hereby amended to read

as follows:

     Article 10, Section 24 -- GENERAL PROVISIONS: SUCCESSION IN GOVERNMENT

-- Minority Representation.

     The city council shall establish via ordinance standards for minority representation

appointments to city boards and commissions.

     There shall be minority party representation on all boards and commissions. The minority

party shall mean the party other than that of the mayor. The mayor shall make such minority party

appointment from a list of five names submitted by the chairman of the city committee of the

minority party at least five days before such appointment is to be made; provided, however, if the

chairman of such city committee shall fail or refuse to submit a list as aforesaid, the mayor shall

appoint any person known by him to be a member of the political party entitled to said appointment.

Unless otherwise established, all terms expire on the fifteenth day of the last month of the term,

unless that day falls on a non-business day, then the term shall expire on the first business day after

the fifteenth.

     SECTION 4. Pursuant to Article 10, Section 29 of the Warwick City Charter, these

amendments shall be submitted to the voters of the city at the next general election to be held in

November, 2026, or a special election as may be scheduled sooner, for approval or rejection thereof,

in the following form:

     "1. Shall the methods of notifying city council members of special meetings be expanded

from service in person or at their residence to include electronic notification?

APPROVE DISAPPROVE

     2. Shall the monetary thresholds for competitive bids of small purchases that may be

awarded by the purchasing agent and by the city council be adjustable by ordinance as allowed by

the state?

APPROVE DISAPPROVE

     3. Shall the city council establish via ordinance standards for minority representation

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appointments to city boards and commissions?

APPROVE DISAPPROVE"

     SECTION 5. Sections 4 and 5 of this act shall take effect upon passage. Section 1 of this

act shall take effect upon approval of the voters of the city of Warwick at a general or special

election of amendment question 1 contained in Section 4. Section 2 of this act shall take effect upon

approval of the voters of the city of Warwick at a general or special election of amendment question

2 contained in Section 4. Section 3 of this act shall take effect upon approval of the voters of the

city of Warwick at a general or special election of amendment question 3 contained in Section 4.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO AUTHORIZING THE AMENDMENT OF THE WARWICK CITY CHARTER

TO ALLOW FOR ELECTRONIC NOTICE OF SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETINGS, RAISING

THE SMALL PROCUREMENT DOLLAR THRESHOLD BY ORDINANCE, AND

ESTABLISHING MINORITY REPRESENTATION APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND

COMMISSIONS VIA ORDINANCE

***

     This act would approve charter amendments to the Warwick city charter subject to voter

approval at the general election to be held in November, 2026, or at a special election as may be

scheduled sooner. If approved, these amendments would allow the methods of notifying city

council members of special meetings to be expanded to include electronic notification, would allow

the monetary thresholds for competitive bids of small purchases to be adjustable by ordinance as

allowed by the state, and would further provide that the city council could establish via ordinance

standards for minority representation appointments to city boards and commissions.

     Sections 1, 2, and 3 of this act would take effect if a majority of those electors qualified to

vote upon the corresponding question in Section 4 shall vote in favor thereof. The remaining

sections of this act would take effect upon passage.

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