2015 -- S 1019

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LC002876

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE

CONSOLIDATION OF THE COVENTRY FIRE DISTRICT AND THE CENTRAL

COVENTRY FIRE DISTRICT

     Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, and Kettle

     Date Introduced: June 24, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of thirteen (13) members: four (4) of whom shall be from among those members of the

House who represent the Town of Coventry; two (2) of whom shall be from among those

members of the Senate who represent the Town of Coventry; two (2) of whom shall be the Fire

Chiefs from the Coventry fire district and the Central Coventry fire district, or designees; two (2)

of whom shall be current board members, one from the Coventry fire district and one from the

Central Coventry fire district, to be appointed by the chair of the board of each district; one of

whom shall be the Coventry Town Manager, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be a member of

the Coventry Town Council, to be appointed by the Council President; and one of whom shall be

a representative of the Coventry Professional Firefighters Union, to be appointed by the President

of the Senate.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

of a legislator, provided that the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party which

is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study of the potential

consolidation of the Coventry fire district and the Central Coventry fire district that would

include, but not be limited to, establishing one tax rate and one union contract.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House and organize. The President

of the Senate and the Speaker of the House shall each select one member to serve as co-

chairpersons of the commission.

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and results to the General

Assembly on or before January 5, 2016, and said commission shall expire on April 5, 2016.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE

CONSOLIDATION OF THE COVENTRY FIRE DISTRICT AND THE CENTRAL

COVENTRY FIRE DISTRICT

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     This resolution would create a thirteen (13) member special legislative commission

whose purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study of the potential consolidation of the

Coventry fire district and the Central Coventry fire district and provide recommendations, and

who would report back to the General Assembly on or before January 5, 2016, and said

commission would expire on April 5, 2016.

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LC002876

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