Title 45
Towns and Cities

Chapter 50
Municipal Public Buildings Authorities

§ 45-50-9. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following words and terms have the following meanings, unless the context indicates another or different meaning:

(1) The word “authority” means any municipal public buildings authority created pursuant to this chapter, or, if the authority is abolished, the board, body, or commission succeeding to the principal functions or upon whom the powers of the authority given by this chapter are given by law.

(2) The word “bonds” means and includes the notes, bonds, and other evidences of indebtedness or obligations which the authority is authorized to issue pursuant to this chapter.

(3) The word “construction” means and includes acquisitions, construction repair, rehabilitation, development, and installation, and the term “to construct” means and includes to acquire, to construct, to repair, to rehabilitate, to develop and to install, all in a manner as may be deemed desirable.

(4) The word “cost,” as applied to any project to be constructed or acquired by the authority, includes the cost of acquisition or construction, and, if the project consists of public facilities, the cost of acquisition of all land, rights of way, property, rights, easements, and interests acquired by the authority for the construction, the cost of demolishing or removing any buildings or structures on land so acquired, including the cost of acquiring any lands to which the buildings or structures may be moved, the cost of all machinery and equipment, financing charges, interest prior to and during construction and for one year after completion of construction, the cost of estimates and of planning, engineering, and legal services, plans, specifications, and surveys, estimates of cost and of revenues, other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of the construction, administrative expenses, and any other expenses that may be necessary or incident to the construction, the financing of the construction, and the placing of the project in operation. The word “cost” as applied to any project which the authority may be authorized to acquire, means the amount of the purchase price of any public equipment, or if the project consists of public facilities, the amount of any condemnation award in connection with the acquisition of the project, and includes the cost of acquiring all of the capital stock of the corporation owning the project, if that is the case, and the amount to be paid to discharge all of the obligations of the corporation in order to vest title to the project which may be determined by the authority to be necessary prior to the financing of the project, interest during the period of construction of the improvements and for one year thereafter, the cost of all lands, properties, rights, easements, franchises, and permits acquired, the cost of planning, engineering, and legal services, plans, specifications, and surveys, estimates of cost and of revenues, other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of the acquisition or improvement, administrative expenses, and any other expenses that may be necessary or incident to the financing of the acquisition or improvement and the placing of the project in operation by the authority. The word “cost” includes the cost of purchase and installation of solar, wind, and renewable energy systems, which include solar thermal, solar electric, and wind energy systems that provide heating, cooling, hot water, or electricity to a building, together with equipment for collection, storage, distribution, and control, including structural components of a building specifically designed to retain heat derived from solar energy.

(5) The term “federal agency” means and includes the United States of America, and any department of, or corporation, agency, or instrumentality created, designated, or established by the United States of America.

(6) The term “improvement” means and includes extension, enlargement, and improvement, and the term “to improve” means and includes to extend, to enlarge, and to improve all in a manner as may be deemed desirable.

(7) The word “issue,” except as otherwise provided in any series resolution, means or refers to all bonds issued as part of a series and all additional bonds with respect to bonds of series.

(8) The word “municipality” means and includes any city or town within the state.

(9) The word “owner” means and includes all individuals, incorporated companies, copartnerships, societies, or associations and also municipalities, political subdivisions, and all public agencies and instrumentalities having any title or interest in any property, rights, easements, or franchises authorized to be acquired under the provisions of this chapter.

(10) The word “person” means and includes natural persons, firms, associations, corporations, business trusts, partnerships, and public bodies.

(11) The word “project” means any public facility or public equipment which the authority is authorized to construct, improve, equip, furnish, maintain, acquire, install, or operate under the provisions of this chapter, to provide for the conduct of the executive, legislative, and judicial functions of government, and its various branches, departments, and agencies. These projects may include, but need not be limited to, judicial, administrative, educational, residential, civic facility, rehabilitative, medical, police, fire and public safety, recreation, transportation, public water supply system, public sewer system, parks, and other projects that the authority is requested to initiate to provide effective governmental, health, safety, and welfare services in the municipality.

(12) The term “public equipment” means and includes all tangible personal property, new or used, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all machinery, equipment, transportation equipment, maintenance equipment, construction equipment, sanitation equipment, police, fire and public safety equipment, and all other things and rights usually included within that term, including any and all interests in property which are less than full title, such as leasehold interests, security interests, and every other interest or right, legal or equitable.

(13) The words “public facilities” mean and include any real property, lands, structures, buildings, facilities, or improvements, now or existing, and include, without limitation, all structures, parking facilities, recreational facilities, park facilities, civic facilities, landscaping and other appurtenances and facilities, including fixtures, furnishings, personalty, and equipment, incidental to the use of any building, the site of the building, and any easements, rights of way or other property rights appurtenant to it or necessary or convenient in connection with it. Notwithstanding the preceding, no authority created after December 31, 1988, has the power to construct, improve, equip, furnish, maintain, acquire, install, or operate a free standing parking garage. The words “free standing parking garage” shall not include any facility that is functionally related and subordinate to a project funded under that public building authority project and designed to provide parking for the project.

(14) The word “state” means and includes the state of Rhode Island, and any office, department, board, commission, bureau, division, authority, public corporation, agency, or instrumentality thereof.