2012 -- H 7047

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LC00139

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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

RELATING TO THE TOWN OF NORTH PROVIDENCE

     Introduced By: Representatives Corvese, Schadone, San Bento, and Hull

     Date Introduced: January 05, 2012

     Referred To: House Municipal Government

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 2-1-6 in Chapter 1 of Article 2 of Chapter 237 of the Public Laws

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of 1973 entitled “An Act to Incorporate the Town of North Providence”, as amended, is hereby

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further amended to read as follows:

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     2-1-6 Meetings.

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     (a) At least one regular meeting shall be held commencing at 7:30 7:00 p.m. on the first

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Tuesday of each month and if such day is a legal holiday by the laws of the state, or an election

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day, the meeting shall be held on the following day, except that the first regular meeting in

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January of each odd numbered year shall be held on the second Tuesday of the month.

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     (b) Special meetings may be held at such other times as the council may deem necessary

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to transact business of the town. The mayor, council president or four (4) members of the council

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may call a special meeting provided the person or persons calling such special meeting notify or

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cause the town clerk to notify all council members by letter delivered by a messenger via

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electronic transmission or by registered or certified mail to the residence of each council member

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at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the holding of such meeting stating its place, time, date and

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purpose. Only such stated business shall be transacted at such meeting unless all members are

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present and consent to act upon other business.

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     (c) All regular and special meetings shall be held in the council chamber of the town hall

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and be open to the public. In the event a regular or special meeting is to be held elsewhere, notice

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shall be given to the residents of the town by advertising the same in a newspaper of general

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circulation and circulated within the town pursuant to the Rhode Island Open Meetings Act

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(RIGL Chapter 42-46) at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the time scheduled for the start of

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such meeting. Such notice shall state the place, time, date and purpose of the meeting and reason

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for removal from the council chamber. All meetings of committees of the council shall be open to

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the public.

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     (d) An emergency meeting shall be held when called by the mayor, president of the

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council or four (4) council members by giving each council member notice thereof at his place of

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residence by telephone, by letter delivered by messenger or by telegram. Such notice shall state

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the place, time, date and purpose of the meeting. An emergency for which such a meeting may be

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held shall be one where immediate action is required to preserve and protect the property, public

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welfare, peace, health or safety of the people in the town and adequate prior action could not have

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been taken in relation thereto under normal circumstances. The preamble of any resolution or

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ordinance passed at such meeting shall state the nature of the emergency and such resolution or

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ordinance or any other action taken at such meeting shall be limited to matters directly relating to

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the stated emergency.

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     (e) A quorum of four (4) members shall be necessary before the council may transact any

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business but a lesser number may adjourn from time to time until a quorum shall be present.

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     (f) Executive meetings of the council and of committees thereof may be held only for the

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consideration of personnel matters where publicity relating thereto would not be in the public

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interest or would be unjustly injurious to the person or persons involved, or matters concerning

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the purchase or sale of town property wherein advance public information as to final action to be

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taken thereon would be detrimental to the interests of the town. Prior to holding such executive

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meeting a vote shall be taken in an open meeting on the matter with at least a general statement as

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to the subject to be discussed in the closed executive meeting and after the meeting is decided,

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information shall be given as to the nature of the action taken and a vote shall be taken thereon in

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an open meeting.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC00139

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO THE TOWN OF NORTH PROVIDENCE

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     This act would amend the North Providence Town Charter by changing town council

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meetings to 7:00 pm, allowing for notices of meetings to be sent via electronic transmission and

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also requiring that notices of all regular and special meetings to be given pursuant to the Rhode

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Island Open Meetings Act (chapter 42-46).

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC00139

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