It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows
SECTION 1. Article VII, Section 3 of the North Smithfield Town Charter, entitled, "Competitive Bidding" is hereby amended to read as follows:
(3) Competitive bidding: Except in the case of contracts for
professional services, before the town makes any purchase of, or
contract for supplies, materials, equipment or work to be performed in
excess of {DEL one thousand dollars ($1,000) DEL} {ADD three thousand dollars
($3,000) ADD} , opportunity shall be given for competitive bidding after
public notice under such rules and regulations, and with such
exceptions, as the town council may prescribe by ordinance. All such
purchases or such contracts for more than {DEL one thousand dollars
($1,000) DEL} {ADD three thousand dollars ($3,000) ADD} shall be awarded to the
lowest responsible bidder, except that the purchasing authority may be
directed by the town council to reject any or all bids and then to
readvertise for bids, or go onto the open market. A performance bond
shall be required of any successful bidder in such amount and with
such surety as the town council may specify or ordain. No transaction
which is essentially a unit shall be divided into a series of orders
for the purpose of circumventing the requirement of this charter for
competitive bidding. Bids, specifications and all other factors being
equal, preference shall be given to the bidder whose place of business
is in the town. It is understood that contracts not in excess of one
thousand dollars ($1,000) for "public works" as defined in section
37-13-1 of the general laws entitled "Labor and payment of debts by
contractors" are not included in the requirement for competitive
bidding, but any such contracts in excess of one thousand dollars
($1,000), although not requiring formal bids, may only be authorized
after securing three (3) firm quotations from qualified vendors. It is
further provided that purchases between one hundred dollars ($100) and
one thousand dollars ($1,000), although not requiring formal bids, may
only be authorized after securing three (3) firm quotations from
qualified vendors.
SECTION 2. The question of the approval of this act shall be submitted to the electors of the town of North Smithfield at the next local election. The question shall be submitted in substantially the following form: "Shall an act passed in the January session, A.D. 1997 of the general assembly entitled 'An Act Amending the Town Charter of the Town of North Smithfield by Increasing the Contract Amount Requiring Competitive Bidding to $3,000' be approved?"
SECTION 3. The local board, as defined in section 17-1-2 of the general laws, shall forthwith after the election notify the secretary of state of the result of the vote upon the question submitted. The polling place or places shall be designated by the local board and the election shall be held in conformity with the election laws of the state.
SECTION 4. This section and sections 2 and 3 of this act shall take effect upon passage and section 1 of this act shall take effect if and when a majority of the persons voting upon the proposition contained in section 2 have indicated their approval thereof.
