Source: https://ecode360.com/14614340
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 13:00:21+00:00

Document:
§ 223-4 Powers and duties.
§ 223-6 Lien of district fees.
§ 223-9 Assessment of personal or real property.
§ 223-11 Annual budget meetings.
§ 223-13 Collection of management fees.
§ 223-14 Board of Directors.
§ 223-16 Officers, duties and responsibilities.
§ 223-17 Reporting to Town and DEM.
Parks and recreation areas — See Ch. 221.
The purpose of the Management District is to prevent threats to the general public welfare, public safety and public and private property caused by the failure or breach of the Pascoag Dam (consisting of the main dam and the west dike) ("the dam") and to protect the values associated with the dam through the implementation of dam repairs, maintenance and management by apportioning among and collecting from the owners of property within the district the costs of maintaining and repairing the dam and the access routes to the dam, and to pay the costs of utilities servicing, taxes, and other financial assessments, assessed against properties of the Management District, the costs of administering the Management District and the costs to acquire, hold, use, sell, transfer or lease real or personal property as provided in § 223-4F.
Map 191: Lots 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 80, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110.
Map 209: Lots 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 135, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143.
Map 226: Lots 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.
Map 227: Lots 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34; 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 52, 53, 54, 72, 73.
Map 245: Lots 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26.
Map 262: Lots 13, 14.
Map 7: Lots 001, 002, 003, 028, 028-C, 033, 035, 036, 038, 039, 110, 111, 112, 113, 124, 124-A, 141, 145, 146, RF-7.
Map 7, Echo Lake Shores Plat: Lots EL-055, EL-190, EL-403, EL-408, EL-409, EL-411, EL-414, EL-416, EL-418, EL-424, EL-426, EL-428, EL-430, EL-432, EL-439.
Map 7, Pascoag Lake Plat: Lots PL-001, PL-004, PL-006, PL-007, PL-009, PL-010, PL-024, PL 025, PL-026, PL-027, PL-028, PL-029, PL-030; PL-032, PL-035, PL 038, PL-040, PL-044, PL-046, PL-048, PL-050, PL-052, PL-055, PL 057, PL-058, PL-BEA-LOT.
Map 7, Pascoag Lake Plat: PLB-001, PLB-004, PLB-007, PLB-009, PLB-C, PLB-D, PLB-E, PLB-010, PLB-011, PLB-012, PLB-013, PLB-014, PLB-015, PLB-016, PLB-017.
In the case where a property included in the Management District is subdivided, all parcels that are created by the subdivision and continue to adjoin, abut, have direct access to, or enjoy access by deed or some other recorded instrument, to Pascoag Reservoir/Echo Lake shall remain a part of the Management District.
All other properties in the towns of Burrillville and Glocester that enjoy access to the reservoir/lake by deed or some other recorded instrument.
Nothing herein shall prohibit the Management District from providing in the bylaws for voluntary membership in the Management District by owners of property outside the defined area of the Management District.
Adopt a common seal, sue and be sued, and enjoy the powers generally incident to corporations.
Any dam or property owned and furnished by any municipality, water district, fire district or any other municipal or quasi-municipal corporation that is regulated as a water supplier by the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission under chapter 1 of title 39 and subject to the provisions of chapter 15.6 of title 46 shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter.
All fees and charges assessed against any property in the Management District pursuant to this chapter shall constitute a lien upon that property in the district for the space of three years after the assessment, and, if the property is not alienated, then until the fees are collected.
Any elected or appointed district official, employee, or member of the Management District is entitled to all the rights and benefits of indemnification by the Management District, as provided by § 45-15-16.
"Eligible voter" shall mean the owner(s) of property [parcel(s) of land or a dwelling on leased land or on land owned by a homeowner's Association] located in the Management District and assessed by the Burrillville and/or Glocester Assessors' office for real estate and/or personal property tax purposes.
The term "owner" or "owners" as used herein shall mean those persons identified as the assessed owners of such property according to the records of the Burrillville and/or Glocester Assessor's office as of 60 days before the scheduled date of any meeting at which votes are cast.
If, however, such owners have transferred the property and the successor(s) have not yet been identified by such records as the assessed owners thereof, the successor(s) may file with the Board of Directors a certified copy of the recorded deed or other official evidence of ownership. Such documentation shall serve to establish that such successors are the successors to the owners of record of the property, and shall be considered owners for all purposes hereunder.
If there is more than one owner of any such property; all such owners shall jointly designate in writing one owner who shall be the eligible voter entitled to cast the vote on behalf of all owners. Such designation shall be filed with the Board of Directors. A vote cast by an eligible voter shall be deemed to be the vote of all the owners in concert.
Notwithstanding the above, an eligible voter shall only be entitled to cast one vote regardless of how many properties the owner may hold title to.
The term Burrillville and/or Glocester Assessor's office as used herein shall, when the context so requires, include the Burrillville and/or Glocester Collector's office, or other department of the Town which is required to make and keep assessments of real and personal property therein.
Each eligible voter shall have one vote on matters concerning the Management District on which they are entitled to vote, including the budget, as hereinafter provided.
Any personal or real property owned by the Management District shall be assessed and taxed/charged in a manner consistent with local, state and federal law.
Provisions for notification to the membership of any emergency appropriations made by the Board of Directors.
Within six months from the approval of bylaws, the Board of Directors for the Management District shall call the initial budget meeting of the Management District in accordance with the duly adopted bylaws of the Management District.
The Board of Directors shall provide a copy of the proposed bylaws, and a notice of the time and place of the initial meeting via first class mail to the owners of property located within the Management District. Information will be sent to owners at the mailing addresses listed in the records of the Burrillville and/or Glocester Assessors' office. If successor(s) have been established as herein provided, information will be sent to the address, if any, provided to the Board of Directors in writing by such successor(s).
Quorum. A quorum at the initial meeting of the Management District shall be 20 eligible voters.
All action, business and procedures that could take place at any annual budget meeting may take place at the initial budget meeting, and the assessment, collection and enforcement of any amounts approved at such meeting shall be governed accordingly.
After the initial budget meeting, subsequent annual budget meetings shall be held as specified in bylaws duly adopted by the Management District.
The Board of Directors for the Management District shall prepare the budget for the Management District each year. The proposed budget and a notice of the date, time and place of the annual budget meeting shall be sent to all property owners in the Management District in accordance with the bylaws duly adopted by the Management District.
A quorum at the annual budget meeting of the Management District shall be as specified in bylaws adopted by the Management District.
In the event that, for any reason, a quorum is not present at the time a meeting is scheduled to open, the Board of Directors is authorized to delay the opening time or postpone said meeting for such period of time as, in the discretion of the Board of Directors, shall best serve the interests of the Management District. Notice of the postponement shall be as specified in the bylaws duly adopted by the Management District.
If any meeting has been postponed two times for lack of a quorum, the meeting may be held with the Board of Directors, who shall be empowered to vote upon all matters legally before the meeting.
The construction, maintenance, management, preservation, support or removal of the dam and related facilities, lake and property.
The purchase or rental of all necessary equipment and generally all things necessary and proper for managing the Management District, and carrying into effect and attaining the purpose of this chapter.
The improvement or the payment of expenses relating to property belonging to the Management District and used by the residents in connection with the dam, including access routes and facilities.
The creation of a reserve fund for the future management and replacement of property and equipment.
The periodic auditing of the financial records of the Management District. Periodic audits shall be conducted as specified in the bylaws duly adopted by the Management District, provided that there is no longer than a three-year interval between such audits. Copies of the audit, certified by the secretary of the Management District, shall be filed with the Town Clerks of the Town of Burrillville and the Town of Glocester.
The times for payment of management charges and fees and the penalties for late payments.
Payment of any charges and expenses arising within the Management District, incidental or not to the above.
Borrowing funds necessary to perform the services authorized herein.
Approval of the budget shall be by a majority of the votes cast.
The amount approved for the budget at the annual budget meeting shall immediately, without the necessity of the recording of any document with the Burrillville and/or Glocester Town Clerk in the land evidence records or otherwise, become a lien upon all properties within the Management District and shall be payable as established at the initial or any annual budget meeting. The lien shall have priority over all other liens, interests and encumbrances, except municipal taxes of the Town of Burrillville and/or the Town of Glocester, Fire District taxes and sewer and water assessments and taxes and other liens held by the State of Rhode Island. The lien hereunder shall endure for a period of three years after the assessment thereof and, if the real estate is not alienated, then until the fees are collected.
In addition to voting upon the budget, eligible voters or the Board of Directors, as the case may be, shall vote upon any other matters that shall legally come before them.
Special meetings of the Management District may be called in accordance with the bylaws, duly adopted by the Management District.
A quorum at any special meeting of the Management District shall be as specified in the bylaws duly adopted by the Management District. In the event that, for any reason, a quorum is not present at the time a meeting is scheduled to open, the Board of Directors is herewith authorized to delay the opening time of said meeting for such period of time, or to postpone it indefinitely, as in the discretion of the Board of Directors shall best serve the interests of the Management District.
Approval of matters voted upon at any special meeting shall be in accordance with bylaws adopted by the Management District.
Within 60 days after the approval of the budget at the initial or any annual budget meeting, the Board of Directors shall cause the Collector to mail to the owners of each property located within the Management District bills for the collection of the amounts due with respect to any property.
Management District bills may be based on a flat rate established by the Board of Directors to be applied uniformly on property located within the Management District or may be based on a rate to be established by the Board of Directors and applied against assessed values of property in the Management District in accordance with § 223-16C of this chapter, or may be a combination of a flat rate and assessed value rate.
Bills will be mailed via first class mail, to the owners of each property located within the Management District, in each case addressed to such owners at the mailing address specified in the records of the Burrillville and/or Glocester Assessors' office for the mailing of real estate tax bills, or to the successor(s) established as herein provided to the address, if any, provided to the Board of Directors in writing by such successor(s).
The treasurer shall upon request issue a lien certificate which shall state any amounts of management fees that are due and owing on the date said certificate is given. Any such certificate may be recorded within 60 days after its date with the Burrillville and/or Glocester Town Clerk in the land evidence records, and if so recorded shall operate to discharge property specified from the lien of all amounts due for management fees which do not appear by said certificate to be due and owing, except such fees that arise after the date shown on the certificate or which are the subject of a recorded statement of lien, as herein provided; but a certificate issued under this section shall not affect the obligation of any person liable for the payment of any management fee by reason of being assessed owner of such property at the time any such lien arose. Collection of management fees shall be in the same manner as provided by law for the collection of taxes by municipalities and the Collector of fees for said Management District shall, for the purpose of collecting fees assessed by said Management District, have the same powers and authority as are now by law conferred on collectors of taxes for towns in the state.
The Board of Directors shall consist of seven individuals all of whom must be eligible voters of the Management District. Five members of the Board of Directors shall be owners of property in the Town of Burrillville and two members shall be owners of property in the Town of Glocester.
Upon passage of this chapter, the initial composition of the Board of Directors shall be determined as follows: the Burrillville Town Council shall appoint five individuals to the Board of Directors and the Glocester Town Council shall appoint two individuals to the Board of Directors. The initial members of the Board of Directors shall serve until the first Annual Budget Meeting. Thereafter, the Board of Directors shall be elected by majority vote of a quorum, for terms as established in the Management District bylaws.
The Board of Directors shall elect one of its members as president, one of its members as vice president, and one of its members as secretary. The president, and in the president's absence, the vice president, shall preside at all meetings of the Management District and shall conduct all meetings in accordance with rules duly adopted by the Management District.
Emergency appropriations. The Board of Directors may make emergency appropriations to meet an emergency that threatens the general public welfare, public safety and/or public and private property of the Management District. As used in this section, emergency includes extraordinary fire, flood, storm or other impending or actual disaster endangering or threatening to endanger the physical structure of the dam and/or appurtenant facilities.
The Board of Directors dealing with any emergency or emergencies shall adopt a resolution that contains a declaration of the existence and extent of the emergency, and the amount of the emergency appropriation.
The Board of Directors shall cause notification of the emergency appropriation to be sent to the membership of the Management, District, as provided in the Management District bylaws, but no later than 60 days from the date of the resolution.
The Board of Directors shall appoint all officers and committees and shall have the authority to designate individuals to act on behalf of the Board for specific tasks and assignments, as identified by the Board.
The Board of Directors shall vote to fill vacancies on expired or unexpired terms of duly appointed officers.
The President of the Board of Directors shall administer the oath of office to the officers.
Upon adoption, modification, or amendment of the bylaws of the Management District, the secretary shall file certified copies of the bylaws with the Town Clerks of the Towns of Burrillville and Glocester.
The secretary shall on behalf of the Board of Directors give notice of every Annual Budget Meeting or special meeting of the Management District as specified in the bylaws duly adopted by the Management District.
The secretary shall take the minutes of all meetings and shall be held responsible for the management of same.
The secretary of the Management District shall file with the Town Clerks of the Towns of Burrillville and Glocester the unofficial minutes of any meeting of the Management District within 35 days of the meeting. Upon approval of the minutes, the secretary shall provide certified copies of the approved minutes of all proceedings to the Town Clerks.
On receipt of the assessment from the Assessor, the secretary shall deliver a copy to the treasurer, who shall issue and affix to said copy, a warrant under his hand, directed to the Collector, commanding him to proceed and collect said fees.
The secretary shall carry out the functions of the treasurer in his or her absence or disability and shall have authority to sign checks and assume other duties of the treasurer.
The Board of Directors, at each annual budget meeting, shall make a report to the eligible voters of the Management District of the state of affairs of the Management District. Financial and other records of the Management District shall be open for inspection by the owners of properties within the Management District at reasonable times and upon reasonable notice.
Whenever a vacancy shall occur in the Board of Directors either through death, resignation or disability or removal for cause as provided in the bylaws of the Management District, the remaining members of the Board of Directors shall appoint a resident who is also an eligible voter of the Management District to serve in such capacity until the next annual meeting, and until their respective successors are elected.
The Board of Directors shall have the authority to retain legal counsel at an annual cost to be determined by the eligible voters of the Management District. Said legal counsel shall be available in an advisory capacity for all committees of the Management District and shall render legal opinions, whenever requested to do so.
The Board of Directors, acting on behalf of the Management District, shall have the right to sue and be sued in the courts of this state having jurisdiction to hear, try or determine such causes. The Management District shall indemnify and hold harmless any elected or appointed district official for damages, judgments, settlements, costs and expenses incurred in connection with any action, suit or appeal therefrom, arising out of an alleged or actual breach of duty, neglect, error, misstatement, or omission, unless willfully and intentionally done, or by reason of their being an officer of the Management District.
The Board of Directors shall prescribe an accounting system for the Management District.
The Board of Directors shall cause an audit of the association's Management District to be made by a certified public accountant in compliance with the provisions of the bylaws duly adopted by the Management District.
The Board of Directors shall have the power to set compensation if any for its members and the officers and agents of the Management District.
The Board of Directors shall have the authority to establish rules, regulations and procedures for the administration of the Management District, within the parameters established by this chapter or by the duly adopted bylaws of the Management District.
The officers of the Management District shall be appointed by majority vote of the Board of Directors and shall be constituted of a Collector, Assessor, and Treasurer; and any other office deemed necessary by the Board of Directors and established in the duly adopted bylaws of the Management District. Each shall hold office for a term as established in the Management District bylaws.
In no event shall the President, Vice President or Secretary of the Board of Directors serve as an appointed officer nor shall one person serve in more than one appointment position concurrently.
Upon the passage of this chapter, the initial officers shall be appointed by majority vote of the Board of Directors at the initial meeting and will serve until the first annual budget meeting. Thereafter, all candidates for appointed office must apply in the manner established by the Management District bylaws.
The treasurer, before proceeding to discharge these duties, shall give bond or provide insurance to the Management District in such sum and with such surety as the Board of Directors may determine, which will provide for the faithful discharge of the duties of office. The premium for said bond or insurance shall be paid by the Management District. Said bond shall be deposited with the secretary. Copies of said bond or proof of insurance shall be filed with the Town Clerks of the Towns of Burrillville and Glocester.
The treasurer shall receive all fees, funds, monies, and receivables by the Management District; have the responsibility for those funds; and have custody of all investments and invested funds of the Management District.
The treasurer shall pay out and expend only those funds that are authorized to be expended by vote of the eligible voters of the Management District at the initial or any annual budget meeting or special meeting, or as requested by the Board of Directors as provided in the bylaws.
The treasurer shall have the authority to borrow such sums that may be so authorized at the initial or annual budget meeting or special meeting, and shall have the authority to invest any surplus funds, subject to the advice and consent of the Board of Directors.
The treasurer shall maintain an accounting system for the Management District, as prescribed by the Board of Directors, and shall be responsible for keeping and maintaining a complete set of financial and accounting records.
Prepare as soon as possible after, and as of, the end of each fiscal year, a complete financial statement and report, for submission to the Board of Directors and the eligible voters at the annual meeting.
The Collector, before proceeding to discharge these duties, shall give bond or provide insurance to the Management District in such sum and with such surety as the Board of Directors may determine, which will provide for the faithful discharge of the duties of office. The premium for said bond or insurance shall be paid by the Management District.
Upon approval of the budget at the annual budget meeting, the Collector shall, on behalf of the Board of Directors, produce management fee bills based on the budget approved by the eligible voters of the Management District, and in accordance with the established apportioning method.
The Collector shall maintain records of all collections and delinquent charges and provide annual written reports thereof.
The bills shall be mailed as herein provided no later than 60 days after the initial or any annual budget meeting or any special meeting establishing amounts due and shall be payable within 60 days after they have been mailed, unless otherwise established in the bylaws duly adopted by the Management District, and shall indicate when payments are due and the penalties for late payments.
The Collector shall pay over to the treasurer the total management fees collected, at intervals established in the bylaws duly adopted by the Management District.
The Collector may, at any time while a management fee is due and owing but unpaid, record a statement of lien with the Burrillville and/or Glocester Town Clerk in the land evidence records indicating the amount due. Additional amounts thereafter becoming due shall be secured by said statement without the necessity of recording further statements. The Collector or the treasurer may discharge the lien by a release filed with the Burrillville and/or Glocester Town Clerk in the land evidence records that makes specific reference to the recorded statement. No release shall be given by the Collector or treasurer unless all management fees then due and owing and all charges associated with the recording of any statement of liens or the release itself shall be paid.
The Collector shall be empowered, subject to approval by a majority of the Board of Directors, to appoint an agent for collection of management fees. Said agent, at the time of appointment, shall give bond or provide insurance to the Management District in such sum and with such surety as the Board of Directors of the Management District shall determine, which will provide for the faithful performance of the duties of said agent.
Assessor. The Assessor shall determine and assess the value of each parcel located within the boundaries of the Management District based on its assessed value as made by the respective Tax Assessors for the Towns of Burrillville and Glocester as of December 31 of each year and shall provide this information to the secretary, at a time specified in the bylaws duly adopted by the Management District.
At least annually the Management District shall submit complete and detailed reports to the Towns of Burrillville and Glocester and the Department of Environmental Management.
All meetings of a public body to discuss or act upon a matter over which the public body has supervision, control, jurisdiction or advisory power shall be in conformance with Chapter 46 of Title 42 of the Rhode Island General Laws as amended, entitled Open Meetings.
All public records shall be open to public inspection in accordance with the State of Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act as it may be amended from time to time.
In the event 15 voters at any duly called meeting of the Management District shall deem that this chapter should be amended or revised, then the Board of Directors shall appoint a committee, approved by the majority of the eligible voters present, to study such proposed amendment or revision. Said committee shall report its findings at the next annual meeting or at a duly called special meeting at which time the approval or disapproval of the proposed amendment or revision shall be voted upon. If a proposed amendment is approved, then the Board of Directors shall request that the respective Town Councils for the Towns of Burrillville and Glocester amend the ordinance. No amendment shall take effect unless approved by the Burrillville Town Council and the Glocester Town Council.
Notwithstanding the above, subsequent to the 2010 Census, the Town Councils of the Towns of Burrillville and Glocester may review the composition of the Board of Directors to determine whether the apportionment remains equitable and may make amendments to the ordinance to maintain balance.

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