It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Sections II, III, VIII, XIV and XV of Chapter 52 of the 1980 Public Laws entitled, "An Act Incorporating the Westerly Fire District" are hereby amended to read as follows:

II. ELIGIBLE VOTERS

(A) Every person, having reached the age of majority, who is a taxpayer to {ADD or resident of ADD} the Westerly Fire District, shall have the right to vote at any meeting of the Westerly Fire District or any adjournment thereof {DEL , provided that no such person shall be eligible to vote whose taxes are in arrears. DEL} {ADD . Payment of taxes shall not be a consideration in determining eligibility to be considered an eligible voter. ADD}

(B) Any person who is granted an exemption, the amount of which exceeds the total assessment of said person's property, within the Westerly Fire District, shall be considered an eligible voter.

(C) No corporation or stockholder or officer thereof, nor any executor, administrator or trustee, nor any other person acting in a fiduciary capacity shall be eligible to vote.

III. MEETINGS

(A) The Annual Meeting of the Westerly Fire District shall be held on the last Wednesday in August of each year {ADD commencing ADD} at {DEL 8:00 DEL} {ADD 7:00 ADD} P.M., at a location to be specified in the call of the meeting. The Clerk shall determine the location of said meeting. All meetings of the Westerly Fire District shall at all times be held within the boundaries of the Westerly Fire District.

(B) Special Meetings of the Westerly Fire District may be called upon written request, signed by at least twenty (20) eligible voters, setting forth the purpose of said call, delivered to the Clerk, or in the absence thereof, any duly elected officer of the Westerly Fire District. Said Special Meeting shall be called within fourteen (14) days from the date of delivery of said request to the Clerk.

(C) Adjourned Meeting -- Any business conducted or transacted at any Annual or Special Meeting may be referred to an Adjourned Meeting, upon request of fifteen (15) eligible voters present at any such meeting, for the purpose of voting on such matters, either by paper ballot or machine. Said Adjourned Meeting to take place on the second Wednesday following the meeting at which the Adjourned Meeting is requested. Voting hours shall be from 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. at a location within the boundaries of the Westerly Fire District, to be decided by the Clerk, that is easily accessible and convenient to the eligible voters of the Westerly Fire District.

VIII. OFFICERS OF THE WESTERLY FIRE DISTRICT

(A) Moderator -- The Moderator shall preside at all meetings of the Westerly Fire District and shall conduct all meetings in accordance with "Robert's Rules of Order", (Latest Revision). The Moderator shall appoint all committees, subject to the confirmation of a majority of the eligible voters present at any meeting. The Moderator shall administer the Oath of Office to the Clerk.

(B) Clerk -- The Clerk shall give notice of every Annual Meeting, Special Meeting or Adjourned Meeting of the Westerly Fire District by placing a printed notice of the call of any such meeting in ten (10) public places, at least seven (7) days prior to such meeting. Further, he shall advertise the call of such meeting, once a day for three (3) days, in a local newspaper, within a seven (7) day period prior to such meeting. The Clerk shall take the minutes of all meetings and shall be held responsible for the maintenance of same. The Clerk shall administer the oath of office to all duly elected or appointed officers of the Westerly Fire District, except the office of Clerk as hereinbefore provided. The Clerk shall be responsible for establishing all procedures at Adjourned Meetings.

(C) Treasurer -- The Treasurer, before proceeding to discharge these duties, shall give bond to the Westerly Fire District in such sum and with such surety as the eligible voters may determine, which will provide for the faithful discharge of the duties of office. Said bond shall be deposited with the Clerk.

The Treasurer shall pay out and expend only those funds that are authorized to be expended by vote of the eligible voters of the Westerly Fire District at any Annual Meeting, Special Meeting or Adjourned Meeting.

The Treasurer shall make a statement, annually, of all accounts, in writing, showing the sums received and paid during the previous fiscal year.

The Treasurer shall have the authority to hire such sums, subject to the limitations as hereinafter set forth, to carry on the affairs of the Westerly Fire District and shall also have the authority to invest any surplus funds, subject to the advice and consent of the Board of Engineers, in any interest bearing accounts as provided by law.

(D) Tax collector -- The Tax Collector, before proceeding to discharge these duties shall give bond to the Westerly Fire District in such sum and with surety as the eligible voters of the Westerly Fire District shall determine, which will provide for the faithful performance of the duties of the office. Said bond is to be deposited with the Clerk.

The Tax Collector shall pay over to the Treasurer on the first business day of each month the total taxes collected during the previous month, or at more frequent intervals, at the option of the Tax Collector.

The Tax Collector shall determine and assess all real and {ADD such ADD} personal property {ADD as the eligible voters shall determine, ADD} located within the boundaries of the Westerly Fire District, on December 31st of each year in the same amount as assessed by the Town of Westerly. The Tax Collector shall have the power to assess any property exempted or omitted by the Town of Westerly. The date of collection shall be the November 30th following said assessment. Provided, however, in the event the grand list of the Town of Westerly is not certified by June 15th of any year, the Tax Collector, on approval of the Board of Engineers, shall have the authority to change the date of collection to a date not more than 150 days from the date of said certification of the grand list by the Town of Westerly.

The Tax Collector shall, after receipt of the list of assessments from the Town of Westerly and assessing any property omitted or exempted, produce a tax bill based on the tax rate approved by the eligible voters of the Westerly Fire District and further shall maintain records of all tax collections and delinquent charges and provide annual written reports thereof.

(E) Chief -- The Chief shall have command of the Fire Department. He shall decide all disputes and questions arising out of matters connected with the Fire Department among the officers and men. He shall be responsible for the property of the Westerly Fire District and shall enforce the rules and regulations of the Westerly Fire District. The Chief shall have the powers and duties delegated by the State of Rhode Island to the principal officer of fire departments located within the State of Rhode Island.

(F) First Assistant Chief -- The First Assistant Chief shall assist the Chief. In the event of the absence or disability of the Chief, for any reason, the powers and duties of the Chief shall devolve upon the First Assistant Chief.

(G) Second Assistant Chief -- The Second Assistant Chief shall assist the Chief. In the event of the absence or disability of the Chief and the First Assistant Chief, for any reason, the powers and duties of the Chief shall devolve upon the Second Assistant Chief.

(H) Third Assistant Chief -- The Third Assistant Chief shall assist the Chief. In the event of the absence or disability of the Chief, the First Assistant Chief, and the Second Assistant Chief, the Third Assistant Chief shall assume the powers and duties of the Chief.

XIV. TAXABLE PROPERTY

The term taxable property of the Westerly Fire District shall mean and intend to include all real property located within the boundaries of the Westerly Fire District {DEL all automobiles, boats, trailers, motorcycles, mobile homes, inventory and machinery of business or equipment of companies, located within the boundaries of the Westerly Fire District. DEL} {ADD and such personal property within the boundaries of the Westerly Fire District as the eligible voters shall determine. ADD}

XV. DEBT, BONDS, DEBENTURES AND REPAYMENT

The Westerly Fire District is hereby authorized to incur a debt not to exceed {DEL three (3) DEL} {ADD one (1) ADD} percent of the total assessed valuation of all taxable property within the boundaries of the Westerly Fire District as of the assessment last made.

The Westerly Fire District is hereby authorized to issue serial bonds or debentures, under its corporate seal and name. Said bonds or debentures shall be in denominations and shall bear interest and be upon such terms and conditions and shall be issued and sold by the Westerly Fire District in such manner and at such times as the eligible voters of the Westerly Fire District, by majority vote of those present and voting, may decide at any Annual Meeting, Special Meeting or Adjourned Meeting, or in lieu thereof, the eligible voters, by majority vote of those present and voting, may authorize the Moderator and Treasurer to supervise the issuance of said bonds or debentures.

The Moderator and Treasurer will sign all bonds or debentures on behalf of the Westerly Fire District.

The eligible voters at each Annual Meeting shall appropriate sufficient funds to meet the obligations of principal and interest incurred by the issuance of any such bonds or debentures.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.