Chapter 432

2008 -- H 7778 AS AMENDED

Enacted 07/05/08

 

A N A C T

RELATING TO THE COVENTRY FIRE DISTRICT

          

     Introduced By: Representatives Moffitt, Serpa, and Sullivan

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2008

 

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

 

     SECTION 1. Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 14 and 15 of Chapter 806 of the 1889 Public

Laws entitled "An Act to Incorporate the Coventry Fire District" and as subsequently amended,

are hereby further amended to read as follows:

     Sec. 2. The taxable inhabitants of said district qualified to vote in town affairs, on

propositions to impose taxes, or for the expenditure of money, shall be eligible to vote and act in

all meetings of the corporation

     Sec. 3 The annual meeting of said district shall be holden on the second Monday Tuesday

of December in each year. The first meeting shall be holden on the second Tuesday after the

enactment of this act in the town of Coventry within the limits of the fire district, and may be

called by any one or more of the taxable inhabitants of said district. A vote by ballot shall be

taken at said meeting upon the proposition: "Shall the Coventry Fire District be established

according to the act of incorporation passed by the General Assembly of the state?" If a majority

of the persons so voting shall vote "yes," then said Coventry fire district shall be established

according to the provisions of this act. If a majority of the persons so voting shall vote "no," then

this act shall become null and void.

     Sec. 4. Said taxable inhabitants, at each annual meeting, and at any other meetings when

vacancies occur, may elect officers to serve for one year or until the next annual meeting and until

others be chosen in their stead; which officers shall consist of a the board of directors in

accordance with and as set forth in the by-laws of the district and not inconsistent with law. The

board of directors shall appoint the tax collector, treasurer, moderator, clerk, three assessors and a

collector of taxes whose duties and powers within said district shall be such as like officers of

towns of this state have in their respective towns,. They may also elect firewards and any other

needed officers who shall have such powers and duties as are now legally imposed upon fire

wards and fire wardens, and such further powers and duties as are specified in the by-laws of said

fire district not inconsistent with laws, The board of engineers shall appoint the tax collector and

treasurer, who shall serve at the pleasure of the board of engineers. and who shall serve at the

pleasure of the board of directors. Any reference to the board of engineers in the Rhode Island

general laws or otherwise shall be deemed to mean board of directors. The board of directors

shall have the power and authority to contract on behalf of the district.

     Sec. 5. Said taxable inhabitants, at any of their legal meetings, shall have power to order

such taxes, and provide for the assessing and collecting the same on the taxable inhabitants and

property in said district, as they shall deem necessary for purchasing and procuring implements

and apparatus and a supply of water for the extinguishment of fire, and for the purpose of lighting

the streets and public highways in said district with electricity, or otherwise; 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 next previous to the said

assessment, adding, however, any taxable property which may have been omitted by said town

assessors or afterwards acquired; and in the assessment and collecting said taxes, such

proceedings shall be had by the officers of said district, as near as may be, as required to be had

by the corresponding officers of towns in assessing and collecting town taxes; provided, however,

that the tax assessed and payable in any one year under the provisions of this section shall not

exceed five mills one each dollar of said valuation.

     Sec. 6. Said taxable inhabitants, at any legal meeting shall have the power to enact by-

laws prescribing the duties of firewards, and of the inhabitants of said district in time of

conflagration, and for the purpose of enforcing obedience to the commands of the firewards and

appoint officers for suppressing disorder and tumult, guarding or removing property, or rendering

other services in time of fire, and also for the protection of the water pipes, hydrants, safety-

valves, water gates, hose or other apparatus or property of said district and for breach of any such

by-laws may provide a penalty not exceeding a fine of twenty dollars five hundred dollars, to be

recovered for the use of said district, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding thirty days, which

penalty may be enforced by a prosecution on complaint of any member of the said board of

firewards board of directors before any court of competent jurisdiction.

     Sec. 8. Said taxable inhabitants at any town meeting or other legal meeting The board of

directors shall have power to choose and appoint so many men as they shall think needful, in

accordance with the budget set by the inhabitants to be formed into a hose company or

companies, and also hook and ladder company, and to make all such laws and regulations for the

organizing and establishing the same as they shall see fit; and the members of such companies

shall be exempt jury or militia duty. The salaries of firefighters shall be determined by the board

of directors.

     Sec. 9. Said taxable inhabitants may hold special meetings which, as well as the annual

meetings, shall be notified in such a manner as they shall prescribe; prescribed by the by-laws and

it shall be the duty of the clerk to call such a meeting upon written application, signed by twelve

eighty or more such inhabitants; and whenever the subject of ordering a tax is to be acted on, the

same shall be mentioned in the notice, unless it be an annual meeting. The board of directors may

call a special meeting for matters they deem necessary and expedient in the operations of the fire

district. Such special meetings shall follow the notice requirements prescribed in the by-laws.

     Sec. 14. The said board of engineers board of directors are is hereby authorized and

empowered to make and ordain such ordinances not repugnant to law, as they may deem

necessary for said district, providing for fire limits, the construction and equipment of buildings,

and such further ordinances and regulations designed to prevent fire hazards as they may deem

necessary, and may impose penalties for the violation of such ordinances and regulations not

exceeding, however, a fine of twenty dollars five hundred dollars or imprisonment not exceeding

ten days in jail, for any one offence, to be prosecuted by said board board of directors and to be

recovered to the use of said district, provided, however, that no ordinance or regulation shall take

effect within said district until such ordinance or regulation has been approved by a majority vote

of the taxpayers present at any regular or special meeting.

     Sec. 15. Said taxable inhabitants may at any annual or special meeting elect a chief of the

fire district who shall hold office during good behavior, and who shall be removed from office

only for cause at any regular or special meeting by a majority vote of the taxable inhabitants

present at such meeting, but no such officer shall be held to answer any charges until after such

charges have been duly preferred against him in writing, and filed with the clerk of said district

and a copy thereof duly served upon such officer; and no action shall be taken upon any such

charges until the accused has been given full and fair opportunity to appear before such meeting

and be heard thereon. The chief of the fire district shall be appointed by the board of directors and

will serve at the pleasure of the board of directors. The board of directors shall set the

qualifications for the chief of the fire district.

 

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

     

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LC01050/2

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