2023 -- H 6093

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LC002258

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 492 OF THE PUBLIC LAWS OF 2006 AMENDING THE

CHARTER OF THE CENTRAL COVENTRY FIRE DISTRICT

     Introduced By: Representatives Nardone, Noret, P. Morgan, Chippendale, Serpa, and
Roberts

     Date Introduced: March 03, 2023

     Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 7 (a), Section 9, and Section 12 of Chapter 492 of the Public Laws

of 2006, as amended, entitled "AN ACT IN AMENDMENT OF THE INCORPORATION OF THE

CENTRAL COVENTRY FIRE DISTRICT IN FURTHERANCE OF THE "CONSOLIDATION

PLAN" OF THE CENTRAL COVENTRY FIRE DISTRICT, THE WASHINGTON LIGHTING

DISTRICT, THE HARRIS FIRE & LIGHTING DISTRICT AND THE TIOGUE FIRE

DISTRICT, AS APPROVED BY THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF SAID DISTRICTS, AT DULY

CALLED MEETINGS HELD ON MARCH 28, 2006" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     Sec. 7. TAXING AUTHORITY - TAX ASSESSOR

     (a) Said qualified voters at any of their legal meetings shall have the power to order such

taxes and provide for the assessing and collecting of the same on the taxable inhabitants and

property in said district as they shall deem necessary for purchasing fire engines, and all other

implements and apparatus for the extinguishing of fire; for the purchase of land and buildings for

keeping same; for the purchasing, installation, operation and maintenance of a suitable alarm

system; for the purchasing, installation, operation and maintenance of lighting on the streets and

highways of the district; for making cisterns and reservoirs; for paying the salaries of district

officers and employees, as well as the members of the rescue unit known as Central Coventry

Rescue and for the payment of its legal indebtedness. And such taxes, so ordered, shall be assessed

by the assessors of said district on the taxable inhabitants and property therein according to the last

valuation made by the assessors of the town of Coventry next previous to said assessment, adding,

however, any taxable property which may have been omitted by said town assessors or afterwards

acquired; and in assessing and collecting said taxes such proceedings shall be had by the officers

of said district, as near as may be, as are required to be had by the corresponding officers of towns

in assessing and collecting taxes.

     (b) The qualified voters of the Central Coventry Fire District are also authorized to raise

money through taxes to purchase the necessary vehicles and equipment to operate and maintain a

rescue unit to be known as the Central Coventry Rescue.

     (c) TAX ASSESSOR

     There shall be at least one District Tax Assessor, who may also serve as District Clerk,

who shall be appointed or employed by the District. The tax assessor shall levy and assess taxes at

such rate as the district shall vote, on all taxable real and personal property in the district and shall

prepare and deposit the tax list with the tax collector and treasurer of the district; said board shall

assess property on the basis of the last valuation made by the assessors of the Town of Coventry

next previous to said assessment.

     Sec. 9 DISTRICT TREASURER

     There shall be a District Treasurer who shall be appointed or employed by the District. The

Treasurer shall receive all money paid to the District and deposit the same in such federally insured

bank or banking system as shall be designated by the Board of Directors to the credit of the District,

provided that in the event of a surplus of funds, the Board of Directors may direct deposits to be

made in a savings account in some federally insured banking institution The Treasurer shall sign

all duly authorized distinct notes and bonds. and The District Treasurer shall be bonded in an

amount to be determined by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall pay all District obligations

by check, as approved by the Board of Directors and shall close the books as of the last day of each

fiscal year. The Treasurer shall submit a report to the Board of Directors monthly. The Treasurer

shall at every annual meeting, fully report the condition of the treasury of the District, showing

receipts and expenditures of the preceding year.

     Sec. 12 AUTHORIZATION TO BORROW FUNDS

     The Central Coventry fire district is hereby authorized and empowered to borrow from

time to time such sums of money as may be necessary, not however, to exceed in the aggregate the

outstanding principal sum of one-half (1/2) of the annual operating budget, for the purpose of

procuring real and personal estate, the erection and maintenance of buildings, the procuring of fire

and water apparatus, the procuring of street lighting apparatus, for the payment of any legal

indebtedness of said district, or for the purpose of purchasing or procuring any other property, real

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or personal, that may be legally acquired and held by said district.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 492 OF THE PUBLIC LAWS OF 2006 AMENDING THE

CHARTER OF THE CENTRAL COVENTRY FIRE DISTRICT

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     This act would amend several sections of the Central Coventry Fire District Charter to

provide for the purchasing, installation, operation, and maintenance of street lighting and would

provide funding for indebtedness of the Central Coventry Rescue.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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