2022 -- H 8232

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LC005751

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO INCORPORATE THE FOSTER FIRE DISTRICT

     

     Introduced By: Representative Michael W. Chippendale

     Date Introduced: May 11, 2022

     Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. The Foster Fire District is hereby incorporated in the manner and form as

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follows:

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     I. TITLE AND OBJECTIVE

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     A. Title and Boundaries. The name of the district incorporated hereby shall be the "Foster

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Fire District." The boundaries of the district shall be coextensive with those of the Town of Foster,

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Rhode Island. Said district may have a common seal, sue and be sued, impose taxes and fees,

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purchase and own property of any description in furtherance of its objective and enjoy the powers

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and immunities generally incident to a governmental corporation under the Rhode Island General

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Laws.

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     B. Objective. The objective of the Foster Fire District shall be for the purpose of providing

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fire and rescue services within the Fire District and/or to provide operational funding for nonprofit

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fire and rescue in the district and thereby to provide for the protection and preservation of life and

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property in the Town of Foster from damage and destruction by fire, accident, disaster, and other

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casualty, including the provision of emergency medical services.

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     II. QUALIFIED ELECTORS

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     The electors of the district qualified to vote in the Town of Foster on propositions to impose

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a tax, fees, or for the expenditure of money shall be eligible to vote and act in all meetings of the

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district.

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     III. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

 

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     A. Membership. The Board of Commissioners shall consist of seven (7) qualified electors

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in the Town of Foster selected as follows:

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     1. One person appointed by the respective boards of each of the four (4) active volunteer

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fire and rescue companies in Foster; to wit, South Foster Volunteer Fire Company; Moosup Valley

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Volunteer Fire Company; Foster Center Fire Company; and Foster Ambulance Corps (each,

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hereinafter, a "public safety organization" as may be used throughout this Act).

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     2. Three (3) persons who are not active members of Foster public safety organizations

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elected at the annual meeting of the district; provided; however, that the Town Council of the Town

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of Foster shall initially fill these three (3) positions by appointment as follows: one for a term to

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expire at the district annual meeting in 2023, one for a term to expire at the district annual meeting

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in 2024 and one for a term to expire at the district annual meeting in 2025. At the district annual

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meeting in 2023 and thereafter, the voters of the District shall elect one person to serve as

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Commissioner for a term of three (3) years. Any qualified elector who wishes to run for

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Commissioner shall present a petition in support of his or her candidacy containing the signatures

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of twenty-five (25) qualified electors to the clerk of the District not less than thirty (30) days before

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the annual meeting.

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     B. Term and Original Appointment.

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     1. The term of the elected members of the Board of Commissioners shall be three (3) years.

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     2. The term of the members of the Board of Commissioners appointed by the public service

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corporations shall be two (2) years; provided however that the initial term of the commissioners

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appointed by South Foster Volunteer Fire Company and the Moosup Valley Volunteer Fire

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Company shall be one year. Each Commissioner shall serve until his or her replacement is elected

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or appointed and qualified.

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     C. Officers of the Board. At the Board meeting following each annual meeting, the Board

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shall elect a chair and vice-chair from among its membership for a term of one year. The chair and,

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in his or her absence, the vice-chair, shall preside at all meetings of the Board and shall conduct all

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meetings in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order (latest version). The Board of Commissioners

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shall appoint all committees and members thereto.

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     D. Quorum. A quorum shall be a majority of the members of the Board of Commissioners;

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provided, however, that in the absence of a quorum, the members present may vote to continue the

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meeting to a specified date and time.

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     E. Duties of the Board of Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners shall generally

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supervise the operations of the district to accomplish the objectives specified above. Without

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limiting the generality of the foregoing:

 

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     1. The Board of Commissioners shall meet on a regular basis to consider all matters related

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to the district.

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     2. The Board of Commissioners shall, thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting, present

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to the clerk of the District: (a) a written report on the state of affairs of the district; and (b) a

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proposed budget for the coming fiscal year, both of which shall be presented to the voters at the

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annual meeting.

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     3. Whenever a vacancy in the Board shall occur, the chair shall advise the entity that

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appointed such Commissioner of the vacancy and the entity shall appoint a qualified voter of the

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district to serve as Commissioner for the unexpired term. If an elected member of the Board shall

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resign or be otherwise unable to serve, the Board may appoint a Commissioner to serve until the

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next annual meeting at which time a Commissioner shall be elected to fill the unexpired term, if

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any.

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     4. The Board of Commissioners shall have the authority to provide fire, rescue and dispatch

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services directly in the district; to hire, manage and discipline employees; to enter into employment

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contracts and/or collective bargaining agreements; purchase vehicles and equipment; take and do

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all and such other ordinary and necessary activities and actions required for the Fire District to

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directly provide fire and rescue services to the Fire District; enter into contracts and leases for the

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purchase and sale of equipment and services necessary to provide proper operations of the district;

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to sue and be sued in the courts of this state and to retain legal counsel, accountants, consultants,

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or any other provider of professional services, deemed necessary to be in the best interest of the

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district.

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     5. The district shall indemnify any Commissioner or officer for damages, judgments,

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settlements, costs, and expenses incurred with any action, suit or appeal therefrom, arising out of

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an alleged or actual breach of duty, neglect, error, misstatement or omission, or any other matter

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claimed against said person solely by reason of their being a Commissioner or officer of the district.

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     6. In order to effectuate the purposes stated herein, the Board of Commissioners may hire

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and appoint the tax collector and/or the tax board of review in place in the Town of Foster or, at its

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discretion: (a) Hire a separate tax collector; and/or (b) Establish a separate tax board of review for

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the district, which duties shall be outlined in the bylaws of said district.

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     7. The Board of Commissioners shall have the authority to provide fire protection and

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emergency medical services for the District.

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     IV. OFFICERS

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     The following shall be the officers of the district and shall be appointed by the Board of

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Commissioners annually at the first meeting following each annual meeting of the district: clerk,

 

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treasurer, tax collector and moderator. The officers may but need not be members of the Board of

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Commissioners. Officers who are not members of the board shall not be entitled to vote at board

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meetings.

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     A. Clerk. The clerk shall take minutes of all meetings and shall be held responsible for the

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maintenance of same. The clerk shall give notice of every annual meeting, special meeting or

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adjourned meeting and shall advertise the call of such meetings as provided herein. The clerk shall

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have such additional powers and exercise such additional duties as the bylaws or the Board shall

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designate.

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     B. Treasurer. The treasurer, before discharging his or her duties, shall give bond to the

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Foster Fire District, in such sum as the Board of Commissioners may determine, which will provide

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for the faithful discharge of the duties of office. Said bond shall be deposited with the clerk. The

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treasurer shall pay out and expend only those funds that are authorized to be expended by vote of

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the qualified voters of the Foster Fire District, in any meeting. The treasurer shall make a statement

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annually of all accounts in writing and show the sums received and paid during the previous fiscal

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year. The treasurer shall have the authority to hire such persons, subject to the limitations as

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hereinafter set forth, to carry on the affairs of the Foster Fire District and shall also have the

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authority to invest any surplus funds in any interest bearing accounts as provided by law. The

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treasurer shall have such additional powers and exercise such additional duties as the bylaws or the

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board shall designate. The Board may appoint or designate a qualified elector as assistant treasurer,

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said person not to be a member of the Board, who in the absence or disability of the treasurer shall

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have the authority to sign checks and assume the other duties of the treasurer. Said person shall

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provide bond in an amount to be determined by the board.

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     C. Tax Collector. The tax collector for the district shall, for the purposes of collecting taxes,

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have the same powers, duties and authorities as are now by law conferred upon collectors of taxes

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for municipalities of this state. The tax collector shall pay over to the treasurer on the first business

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day of each month the total taxes collected during the previous month, or at more frequent intervals,

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at the option of the tax collector or the Board. The tax collector shall determine and assess all real

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and personal property, located within the boundaries of the Foster Fire District, on December 31 of

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each year, in the same amount as assessed by the Town of Foster. The tax collector shall not assess

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any property exempt in whole or in part or knowingly omitted from taxation by the Town of Foster.

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The date of collection shall be August 15 following said assessment or such other date as shall be

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determined at the annual meeting. Provided, however, in the event the tax roll of the Town of Foster

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is not certified by June 15 of any year, the tax collector, on approval of the Board, shall have the

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authority to change the date of collection to a date not more than sixty (60) days from the date of

 

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said certificate of the tax roll by the Town of Foster. The tax collector shall, after receipt of the list

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of assessments from the Town of Foster, produce a tax bill based on the tax rate approved by the

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qualified voters of the Foster Fire District and further shall maintain records of all tax collections

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and delinquent charges and provide annual written reports thereof.

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     D. Moderator. The moderator shall preside at all annual and special meetings of the district

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in accordance with the authority granted to the town moderator by state law and the Charter of the

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Town of Foster.

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     E. Removal. Officers shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and may be removed, with or

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without cause, by majority vote of the full Board.

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     V. BYLAWS

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     The qualified electors of the district may, upon recommendation of the board, enact all

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bylaws, by them adjudged necessary and expedient for carrying out the provisions of this act

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(hereinafter "act" or "charter'') into effect; provided that, the same be not in violation or repugnant

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to this charter or the laws of this state.

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     VI. TAXABLE PROPERTY

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     The term "taxable property of the district" shall mean and intend to include all real, tangible

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and personal property located within the boundaries of the district, excluding motor vehicles and

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property exempt in whole or in part or knowingly omitted from taxation by the Town of Foster.

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     VII. ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETINGS

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     A. Annual Meetings. There shall be an annual meeting of the district every year for the

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purpose of receiving the reports of the Board, approving the budget, ordering taxes and providing

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for assessing, levying and collecting the same, enacting bylaws and transacting such other business

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or adopting such measures, consistent with the provisions of this act, which the voters at said

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meeting shall deem beneficial to the district. The annual meeting shall be held on the second

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Wednesday of April in each year, at such time and location within or without the district, as the

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Board of Commissioners shall determine. The date of the annual meeting and requirements of the

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call of said meeting may be modified in the district bylaws.

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     B. Special Meetings. The district shall have a special meeting, upon written application

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signed by twenty-five (25) or more qualified electors or at the direction of the board. Written

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application for a special meeting and the notice thereof shall specify the business to be transacted

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at such meeting. Special meetings shall be called within fourteen (14) days from the date of delivery

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of said request to the clerk of the District, at such location and time as the Board of Commissioners

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shall determine and the business to be addressed shall be limited to that provided in the notice of

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meeting.

 

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     C. Quorum. A quorum at the annual or any special meeting of the district shall be twenty-

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five (25) qualified electors. In the event that a quorum is not present at the time the meeting is

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scheduled to open, the moderator is authorized to continue the meeting to such time and date, as in

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the discretion of the Board, shall best serve the interests of the district.

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     D. Notice of Meetings. Unless otherwise specified in the district bylaws, notice of annual

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and special meetings shall follow the requirements of state law for notice of financial town

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meetings.

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     E. Powers of the District Voters. In addition to the general powers specified above, the

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voters shall have the following powers, exercisable at annual and special meetings:

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     The power to order such taxes, fees, and provide for the assessing, levying and collecting

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of same on the taxable inhabitants and property in said district as they shall deem necessary to

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provide proper operating funding for the district and all fire, rescue and dispatch services in the

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district and such taxes, so ordered, shall be assessed by the tax collector of said district on the

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taxable inhabitants and property therein, according to the last valuation made by the assessor of the

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Town of Foster as provided herein. The taxes assessed and payable in any one year under the

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provisions of this section, shall not exceed five dollars ($5.00) on each one thousand dollars

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($1,000) of said valuation; provided further, however, the minimum charge for any district tax bill

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rendered shall be not less than twenty dollars ($20.00). The voters may provide such deduction

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from the tax assessed against any person, if paid by an appointed time or for such penalty by way

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of percentage on the tax if not paid at an appointed time, not exceeding the maximum rate allowed

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by law upon said unpaid tax.

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     F. Budget Cap. (1) The district shall endeavor to limit its annual budget request to an

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amount which exceeds its appropriation for the prior fiscal year by no more than the maximum

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levy, in compliance with the provisions of Rhode Island general laws § 44-5-2.

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     (2) In the event that the district's budget request exceeds the respective prior year's

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appropriation by more than the maximum levy allowed within the provisions of Rhode Island

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general laws § 44-5-2, such request shall be voted on at the annual financial meeting and shall

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require a two­thirds (2/3) vote of the electors present for approval. Prior to any such vote, the

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moderator shall advise the electors, by how much in percent and in dollars the request exceeds the

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maximum levy, within the provisions of Rhode Island general laws § 44-5-2.

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     (3) In the event that an appropriation resolution which exceeds the prior year's

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appropriation by more than the maximum levy within the provisions of Rhode Island General Law

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§ 44-5-2 is not approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, the moderator shall entertain substitute

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resolutions from the floor and, following discussion, shall put any such resolution to a vote, until a

 

LC005751 - Page 6 of 9

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substitute resolution, receives the votes necessary for adoption by majority or a two-thirds (2/3)

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vote, as may be required.

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     (4) After all such resolutions which exceed the prior year's appropriation by more the

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maximum levy within the provisions of Rhode Island general laws § 44-5-2 have been decided, the

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moderator shall put the entire fire district budget to a vote of the electors present at the annual

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meeting. The fire district budget shall require a majority vote for approval.

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     VIII. DEBTS, BONDS, DEBENTURES AND REPAYMENT

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     A. The Foster Fire District is hereby authorized to incur total debt not to exceed one percent

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(1%) of the total assessed valuation of all taxable property within the boundaries of the Foster Fire

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District as of the assessment last made.

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     B. The Foster Fire District is hereby authorized to issue serial bonds or debentures, under

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its corporate seal and name. Said bonds or debentures shall be in denominations and shall bear

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interest and be upon such terms and conditions and shall be issued and sold by the Foster Fire

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District, in such manner and at such time as the qualified electors of the Foster Fire District, by

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majority vote of those present and voting, may decide at any annual meeting, special meeting or

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adjourned meeting, or in lieu thereof, the qualified electors, by majority vote of those present and

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voting, may authorize the board and treasurer to supervise the issuance of said bonds and

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debentures.

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     C. The chair or vice-chair of the Board and the treasurer shall sign all bonds or debentures

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on behalf of the Foster Fire District.

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     D. The qualified voters at each annual meeting shall appropriate sufficient funds to meet

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the obligations of principal and interest incurred by the issuance of any such bonds or debentures.

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     IX. FIRE DISTRICT ACT

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     In the event that the Board or twenty-five (25) qualified electors shall, by written petition

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request that this Fire District act be revised or amended, then and in that event, the Board shall

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appoint a committee to study such proposed amendments or revisions. Said committee shall report

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its findings to the Board, which shall present any proposed amendments or revisions to the electors

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at a general or town-wide special election. Any amendment or revision to this Fire District act shall

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be contained in the warrant for the election, at which it is to be voted upon. Upon approval of any

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amendment or revision by the qualified voters of the district, the same shall be referred to the Rhode

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Island general assembly for enactment at its first available session.

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     X. FISCAL YEAR AND INTERIM FUNDING

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     The fiscal year of the district shall be from July 1 through June 30. The Town of Foster

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shall provide interim funding to the fire and rescue companies, until the district taxes are assessed

 

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and collected.

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     SECTION 2. Tax Assessment - The taxes assessed and payable for the Foster Fire District

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in any one year, shall not exceed five dollars ($5.00) per each one thousand dollars ($1,000) of real

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property valuation; provided further, however, that the minimum charge for any Foster Fire District

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tax bill rendered shall not be less than twenty dollars ($20.00).

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     SECTION 3. The question of approval of this act shall be submitted to the electors within

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the Town of Foster at the Rhode Island statewide general election to be held on the eighth day of

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November, 2022 and shall be presented in substantially the following manner; "Shall the act passed

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during the 2022 legislative session which will create the Foster Fire District and grant separate

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taxing authority to said District be approved?" The warning for the election shall contain the

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question to be submitted. From until the time the election is warned and the time it is held, it shall

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be the duty of the town clerk to keep a copy of the act available at his/her office for public

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inspection, but the validity of the election shall not be affected by this requirement or by the

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requirements of § 17-5-5 and § 17-5-6.

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     SECTION 4. Section 3 shall take effect upon passage of the act. The remainder of this act

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shall take effect upon the approval of this act by a majority of the qualified electors within the Town

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of Foster at the Rhode Island statewide general election to be held on the eighth day of November

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2022.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO INCORPORATE THE FOSTER FIRE DISTRICT

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     This act would create the Foster Fire District with authority to levy taxes, for the purpose

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of providing fire and rescue services to the town of Foster, subject to its approval by qualified

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electors within the town of Foster, at the November 8, 2022, general election.

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     Section 3 would take effect upon passage of the act. The remainder of this act would take

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effect upon the approval of this act by a majority of the qualified electors within the town of Foster

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at the Rhode Island statewide general election to be held on the eighth day of November, 2022.

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