Chapter 055
2021 -- S 0390
Enacted 06/18/2021

A N   A C T
RELATING TO THE OAKLAND - MAPLEVILLE NUMBER 4 FIRE DISTRICT

Introduced By: Senators de la Cruz, Morgan, and Paolino

Date Introduced: February 25, 2021

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
     SECTION 1. Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 of an act entitled "An Act to Incorporate the
Oakland – Mapleville Number 4 Fire District" passed at the January session of the general assembly
A.D. 1934, as amended by P.L. 2009, Chapter 178, are hereby further amended to read as follows:
     Sec. 2 The taxable inhabitants of said the district qualified to vote in town of Burrillville
affairs on propositions to impose a tax or for the expenditure of money (thereafter called "Voters")
shall be eligible to vote and act at all meetings of the corporations.
     Sec. 3 The annual meeting of said the district shall be held on the second third Wednesday
in September in each year. The clerk of said the District district shall, at least seven (7) days before
said the meeting, give notice of the same by posting conspicuously in public places within the
limits of said the District district, not less than three (3) written or printed notices setting forth the
time and place of such the meeting. The first meeting shall be held on the sixth (6th) Wednesday
after the enactment of this act in the town of Burrillville within the limits of the fire district, and A
special meeting may be called by twelve (12) or more of the voters of said the district. Such The
call shall consist of posting in the same manner and for the same time before such the meetings as
are the annual meetings. at least five (5) public places within the said district of written or printed
notices of such meeting setting forth the time and place within said district where such meeting will
be held, and shall be given at lease seven (7) days before the time of such meeting. The notice shall
also be published not less than one week before the meeting in a public newspaper published daily
and which has a circulation within the town of Burrillville. No vote except upon an adjournment or
on the election of officers pro tempore shall be taken at any meeting of the district unless at least
twelve (12) voters are present at such the meeting. All persons possessing the qualifications set
forth in section 2 of this act shall be entitled to vote by ballot or otherwise as they determine, at
said the first meeting upon the proposition: "Shall the Oakland-Mapleville Number 4 Fire District
be established according to the act of incorporation passed by the general assembly of the State of
Rhode Island" if a majority of the persons so qualified shall vote in the affirmative, said the fire
district shall be established according to the provision of this act. If a majority of the persons so
voting shall vote in the negative, then this act shall become null and void.
     Sec. 4. The voters of the district at each annual meeting, may elect officers to serve one
year staggered terms according to Article II, Section B of the Bylaws of the District, until the next
annual meeting and until others may be chosen in their stead; which officers shall consist of a
moderator, clerk, treasurer, three (3) assessors, and a collector of taxes, whose duties and powers
within said the district shall be such as like officers of town in this state have in their respective
towns. Such The officers shall constitute the operating committee and any vacancy that may occur
in any of the aforenamed offices between annual meetings shall be filled by some person to be
chosen by the other members of the operating committee to hold office until the next annual
meeting. The moderator shall be the chief executive officer of the district and shall be the official
spokesman for the district. The moderator shall serve as an ex-officio member of all committees
and subcommittees of the operating committee but shall vote only when necessary to break a tie.
The operating committee shall have full power to manage the affairs and interests of the fire district.
The operating committee shall appoint three (3) fire commissioners. The terms of office of the fire
commissioner shall be for three (3) years. It shall be the duty of the board of fire commissioner to
elect a fire chief. The fire commissioners shall have responsibility for maintaining, repairing and
insuring all property, real and personal owned by the district.
     The terms of office of the fire chief shall be for the period of one year. There shall be no
limitation on the number of terms a fire chief may serve. The fire chief shall have general
supervision and control of the fire companies and shall serve as liaison between the operating
committee and the fire companies.
     The three (3) assessors shall elect one of their members chairman of the board of assessors.
Their appointment shall be made in such manner that one member of the board shall be appointed
each year. The chairman shall be the official spokesman for the assessors.
     All officers, fire warden, commissioners, and the fire chief shall be residents and voters of
the district.
     Sec. 5. The voters of the district at any of their legal meetings, shall have power to order
such taxes, and provide for assessing and collecting the same on the taxable inhabitants and
property in said the district, as they shall deem necessary for purchasing, hiring, and otherwise
procuring real estate, buildings, implements and apparatus and a supply of water for the
extinguishing of fires; for the purpose of acquiring, furnishing and distributing water and electricity
throughout the district and for operating and maintaining the same purchasing, hiring, and
otherwise procuring equipment for the providing of emergency medical services; for the payment
of the operating expenses of the district; for the preservation of the public peace; and for the
payment of any indebtedness incurred by the district; and such taxes so ordered shall be assessed
by the assessors of the said the district on the taxable inhabitants and the property therein according
to the last valuation made by the assessors of the town next previous to said the assessment, adding,
however, any taxable property which that have has been omitted by said the town assessors or
after acquired, and in all cases where the town assessors have included property within the district
and property without the district in one valuation, the assessors of the district shall make an
equitable valuation of the portion of the same lying within the district; and in the assessing and
collecting of said the taxes, such the proceeding shall be had by the officers of said the district, as
near as may be, as are required to be had by the corresponding officers of towns in assessing and
collection of taxes; and the collector of taxes for the said district shall, for the purpose of collecting
taxes assessed by said the district, have the same powers and authority as are now or may hereafter
be by law conferred on collectors of taxes for towns in this state. Said The district may provide for
such the deductions from the tax assessed against any person if paid by an appointed time or for
such the penalty by way of percentage on the tax if not paid at the appointed time not to exceed
eighteen percent (18%) per annum, as they shall deem necessary to insure ensure punctual
payment. In addition to any other sums to which it may be entitled in accordance with this charter
and applicable laws, in any action or proceeding to collect taxes, the district shall be entitled to
collect the reasonable costs of collection including attorney fees.
     The voters of said the district at any of their legal meetings shall have power to order the
sale of real property and personal property owned by the district.
     Sec. 8. The operating committee of said the district at any legal meeting shall have the
power to appoint so many men/women people as they think needful to be formed into a hose
company or hose companies, and also a ladder company, or ladder companies fire company, and
to make all such laws and regulations for organizing, establishing and maintaining the same and
the equipment thereof as they shall see fit, and the members of such the company shall be exempt
from jury and militia duty.
     Sec. 11. Said The district is hereby authorized, in such manner as may seem necessary and
proper, to contract for and procure electricity and water for the purpose specified in this act. All the
powers and privileges given to said the district by this act shall only be exercised subject to an in
accordance with the existing franchise contract between the town of Burrillville and the Pascoag
water Company Utility District.
     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage and all acts and parts of acts
inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.
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LC000267
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