IN AMENDMENT OF PASSED AT THE JANUARY SESSION A.D. 1942 ENTITLED "INCORPORATE THE WESTERN COVENTRY FIRE DISTRICT"

Plain-English Summary

This bill makes a change to the rules governing the Western Coventry Fire District, a local fire protection organization in Coventry, Rhode Island. Specifically, it adds a new requirement that before the Western Coventry Fire District can merge or consolidate with any other fire district or with the Town of Coventry's fire department, the decision must first be put to a public vote among the district's registered voters (called "electors"). The merger could only move forward if that vote comes back in favor of consolidation.

Currently, under the original 1942 law that created the Western Coventry Fire District, there may not be a formal requirement for a public referendum before such a major structural change can happen. This bill closes that gap by making sure that residents who live within the district have a direct say in any decision to combine their fire district with another organization before it takes effect.

The people most directly affected by this bill are residents and property owners within the Western Coventry Fire District, who would gain the right to vote on any potential consolidation. Local fire district leaders and town officials would also be affected, as they would be required to hold and win a public referendum before proceeding with any merger plans. The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process, having been referred to the Senate Housing and Municipal Government Committee.