2023 -- H 6093
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LC002258
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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A N A C T
IN AMENDMENT OF CHAP TER 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 1
of 2006, as amended, entitled "AN ACT IN AMENDMENT OF THE INCORPORATION OF THE 2
CENTRAL COVENTRY FIRE DISTRICT IN FURTHERANCE OF THE "CO NSOLIDATION 3
PLAN" OF THE CENTRAL COVENTRY FIRE DISTRICT, THE WASHINGTON LIGHTING 4
DISTRICT, THE HARRIS FIRE & LIGHTING DISTRICT AND THE TIOGUE FIRE 5
DISTRICT, AS APPROVED BY THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF SAID DISTRICTS, AT DULY 6
CALLED MEETINGS HELD ON MARCH 28, 20 06" are hereby amended to read as follows: 7
Sec. 7. TAXING AUTHORITY - TAX ASSESSOR 8
(a) Said qualified voters at any of their legal meetings shall have the power to order such 9
taxes and provide for the assessing and collecting of the same on the taxable inhabitants and 10
property in said district as they shall deem necessary for purchasing fire engines, and all other 11
implements and apparatus for the extinguishing of fire; for the purchase of land and buildings for 12
keeping same; for the purchasing, installation, operation and maintenance of a suitable alarm 13
system; for the purchasing, installation, operation and maintenance of lighting on the streets and 14
highways of the district; for making cisterns and reservoirs; for paying the salaries of district 15
officers and employees, as well as the members of the rescue unit known as Central Coventry 16
Rescue and for the payment of its legal indebtedness. And such taxes, so ordered, shall be assessed 17
by the assessors of said district on the taxable inhabitants and property therein according to the last 18
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valuation made by the assessors of the town of Coventry next previous to said assessment, adding, 1
however, any taxable property which may have been omitted by said town assessors or afterwards 2
acquired; and in assessing and collecting said taxes such proceedings shall be had by the officers 3
of said district, as near as may be, as are required to be had by the corresponding officers of towns 4
in assessing and collecting taxes. 5
(b) The qualified voters of the Central Coventry Fire District are also authorized to raise 6
money through taxes to purchase the necessary vehicles and equipment to operate and maintain a 7
rescue unit to be known as the Central Coventry Rescue. 8
(c) TAX ASSESSOR 9
There shall be at least one District Tax Assessor, who may also serve as District Clerk, 10
who shall be appointed or employed by the District. The tax assessor shall levy and assess taxes at 11
such rate as the district shall vote, on all taxable real and personal property in the district and shall 12
prepare and deposit the tax list with the tax collector and treasurer of the district; said board shall 13
assess property on the basis of the last valuation made by the assessors of the Town of Coventry 14
next previous to said assessment. 15
Sec. 9 DISTRICT TREASURER 16
There shall be a District Treasurer who shall be appointed or employed by the District. The 17
Treasurer shall receive all money paid to the District and deposit the same in such federally insured 18
bank or banking system as shall be designated by the Board of Directors to the credit of the District, 19
provided that in the event of a surplus of funds, the Board of Directors may direct deposits to be 20
made in a savings account in some federally insured banking institution The Treasurer shall sign 21
all duly authorized distinct notes and bonds. and The District Treasurer shall be bonded in an 22
amount to be determined by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall pay all District obligations 23
by check, as approved by the Board of Directors and shall close the books as of the last day of each 24
fiscal year. The Treasurer shall submit a report to the Board of Directors monthly. The Treasurer 25
shall at every annual meeting, fully report the condition of the treasury of the District, showing 26
receipts and expenditures of the preceding year. 27
Sec. 12 AUTHORIZATION TO BORROW FUNDS 28
The Central Coventry fire district is hereby authorized and empowered to borrow from 29
time to time such sums of money as may be necessary, not however, to exceed in the aggregate the 30
outstanding principal sum of one-half (1/2) of the annual operating budget, for the purpose of 31
procuring real and personal estate, the erection and maintenance of buildings, the procuring of fire 32
and water apparatus, the procuring of street lighting apparatus, for the payment of any legal 33
indebtedness of said district, or for the purpose of purchasing or procuring any other property, real 34
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or personal, that may be legally acquired and held by said district. 1
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 2
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
IN AMENDMENT OF CHAP TER 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 1
provide for the purchasing, installation, operation, and maintenance of street lighting and would 2
provide funding for indebtedness of the Central Coventry Rescue. 3
This act would take effect upon passage. 4
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