2014 -- S 2807

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LC005277

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO THE CHARTER OF NORTH PROVIDENCE

     Introduced By: Senators E O`Neill, Archambault, and Nesselbush

     Date Introduced: March 25, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 2-2-2 of Chapter 237 of the 1973 Public Laws entitled 'An Act

Incorporating the Town of North Providence', as amended is hereby further amended to read as

follows:

     2-2-2. Procedure.

     (a) Ordinances and resolutions shall be introduced only in written or typed form.

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

committee, the mayor or on petition of at least twenty-five (25) qualified electors and its title and

contents shall be read at such meeting.

(c) Upon majority vote of the council, a proposed ordinance shall be published by a paid

advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in the town within ten (10) days after its

introduction.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

fiscal impact note.

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

fifteen (15) days after its introduction with a recommendation as to action to be taken thereon.

The council may defer action pending further study, but it shall provide that action shall be taken

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

second subsequent regular meeting thereafter.

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

revisions thereof, shall contain only one (1) subject clearly and adequately expressed and titled.

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

purpose.

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

confined to the subject of appropriations.

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

passage of the same, he shall make them available, together with any amendments thereto, in his

office.

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

two (72) hours after its introduction, a copy of each ordinance and resolution introduced.

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

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

introduced.

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

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

read along with a statement as to its contents.

(m) The council, or a committee thereof, shall hold at least one (1) public hearing on all

non-budgetary ordinances, other than emergency ordinances, if at least twenty-five (25) qualified

electors submit a petition to the town clerk at least forty-eight (48) hours before the passage of

such ordinance to request the public hearing, and in such event action thereon shall be deferred

and public notice of the hearing shall be given in a newspaper of general circulation in the town at

least one (1), but not less than three (3) calendar days prior to the holding of such hearing.

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

same as to form and legality.

(o) Not later than twenty-four (24) hours after its passage, the town clerk shall submit the

ordinance or resolution to the mayor.

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(p) Within seven (7) days after its passage, the mayor shall affix his signature to an

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

effective, or he shall return it to the council through the town clerk, within such period stating his

objections thereto. Failure to take such action within the period of seven (7) days shall result in

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

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

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

a vote of no less than a majority plus one (1) of the members of the council, and thereupon or at

the time fixed therein, it shall become effective.

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

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

planning board.

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

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

within twenty-four (24) hours of its final passage.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC005277

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