2013 -- H 6078

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LC02312

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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

AMENDING THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF NORTH PROVIDENCE

     Introduced By: Representatives Corvese, O'Brien, and Hull

     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. Section 2-2-2 of Article 2 of Chapter 23 of the Public Laws of 1973,

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

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amended to read as follows:

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     2-2-2. Procedure.- (a) Ordinances and resolutions shall be introduced only in written or

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typed form.

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     (b) Ordinances and resolutions shall be introduced by a council member, council

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committee, the mayor or on petition of at least twenty-five qualified electors and its title and

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contents shall be read at such meeting.

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     (c) Upon majority vote of the council, a proposed ordinance or resolution shall be

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published by a paid advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in the town, or as

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otherwise provided by state law or local ordinance, within ten (10) days after its introduction.

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     (d) No ordinance other than an emergency ordinance as defined in section 2-1-6(d) of this

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charter, shall be acted upon at the same regular or special meeting in which it is introduced nor at

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a subsequent meeting held sooner than fifteen (15) days after its introduction, All ordinances and

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resolutions including emergency ordinances and resolutions must be accompanied by a fiscal

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impact note. Any ordinance or resolution that does not incur a monetary outlay does not require a

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fiscal impact note. A fiscal impact note will be prepared by the finance committee of the town

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council. The note will be submitted within thirty (30) days of introduction of any such ordinance

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and/or resolution. The finance committee at its discretion may request from the finance director

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data or any other pertinent information which will assist the committee in the formation of said

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fiscal impact note.

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     (e) Every ordinance or resolution shall be reported at the next regular or special meeting

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held at least fifteen days after its introduction with a recommendation as to action to be taken

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thereon. The council may defer action pending further study, but it shall provide that action shall

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be taken thereon for passage or rejection of the same, and such action shall be taken no later than

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the second subsequent regular meeting thereafter.

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     (f) All ordinances and resolutions, except the annual budget, general codifications and

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revisions thereof shall contain only one subject clearly adequately expressed and titled.

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     (g) No ordinance or resolution shall be so amended on passage as to change its original

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purpose.

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     (h) Ordinances for the annual budget and any supplemental appropriation shall be

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confined to the subject of appropriations.

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     (i) The town clerk shall number serially each ordinance and resolution upon introduction,

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and upon passage of the same he shall make them available, together with any amendments

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thereto, in his office.

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     (j) The town clerk shall furnish to each council member and to the mayor within a

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seventy-two hours after its introduction a copy of each ordinance and resolution introduced.

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     (k) An emergency ordinance shall relate only to the emergency matter for which the

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emergency meeting is held and such ordinance may be enacted at the same meeting in which it is

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introduced.

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     (l) No ordinance or resolution shall be passed until after it is read unless a majority of the

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council members present votes to dispense with the reading in which case only the title need be

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read along with a statement as to its contents.

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     (m) The council or a committee thereof shall hold at least one public hearing on all non-

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budgetary ordinances, other than emergency ordinances, and resolutions, if at least twenty-five

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qualified electors submit a petition to the town clerk at least forty-eight hours before the passage

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of such ordinance or resolution to request the public hearing, and in such event action thereon

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shall be deferred and public notice of the hearing shall be given in a newspaper of general

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circulation in the town, or as otherwise provided by state law or local ordinance, at least one not

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less than three calendar days prior to the holding of such hearing.

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     (n) No ordinance or resolution shall be enacted until and unless the solicitor approves the

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same as to form and legality.

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     (o) Not later than twenty-four hours after its passage, the town clerk shall submit the

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ordinance or resolution to the mayor.

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     (p) Within seven days after its passage, the mayor shall affix his signature to an ordinance

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or resolution and it shall thereupon, or at some other time fixed therein, become effective or he

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shall return it to the council through the town clerk within such period stating his objections

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thereto. Failure to take such action within the period of seven days shall result in automatic

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approval with the same effect as if the mayor had affixed his signature thereto.

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     (q) In the event the mayor returns an ordinance or resolution to the council, action shall

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be taken thereon at the next regular or special meeting and the veto thereof may be overridden by

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a vote of no less than a majority plus one of the members of the council and thereupon or at the

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time fixed therein, it shall become effective.

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     (r) No ordinance affecting zoning and/or planning for usage of land or the erection of

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public works of any kind shall be enacted without first receiving an advisory opinion of the

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planning board.

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     (s) Upon enactment of any ordinance, the town clerk shall give notice to any office,

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department or other agency charged with the enforcement or with the implementation thereof

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within twenty-four hours of its final passage.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC02312

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

AMENDING THE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF NORTH PROVIDENCE

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     This act would amend the procedures within the Town Charter of North Providence

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calling for notice in accordance with state laws or local ordinances.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC02312

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