reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 45-4-11 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-4 - Election and Qualification of Officers|Section 45-4-11 - Engagement of town and city officers.

§ 45-4-11. Engagement of town and city officers.Unless some other form of engagement is specially prescribed by law, every person elected to any town or city office, whether by the town, city council, or town council, and every moderator and warden, and ward and district clerk, shall take the following engagement before he or she acts in that office, before some person authorized to administer oaths:You (naming the person) do solemnly swear (or, affirm) that you will be true and faithful unto this state, and support the laws and Constitution thereof, and the Constitution of the United States; and that you will well and truly execute the office of (naming the office) for the term for which you have been elected, or until another be engaged in your place, or until you be legally discharged therefrom; so help you God (or this affirmation you make and give upon peril of the penalty of perjury).History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 39, § 15; G.L. 1909, ch. 49, § 15; P.L. 1914, ch. 1039, § 2; G.L. 1923, ch. 50, § 15; G.L. 1938, ch. 332, § 11; G.L. 1956, § 45-4-11.
RI Gen L § 45-4-12 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-4 - Election and Qualification of Officers|Section 45-4-12 - Certificate of oath delivered to officer.

§ 45-4-12. Certificate of oath delivered to officer.The officer administering the oath shall make and deliver to the officer a certificate of the taking of the oath.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 39, § 16; G.L. 1909, ch. 49, § 16; G.L. 1923, ch. 50, § 16; G.L. 1938, ch. 332, § 12; G.L. 1956, § 45-4-12.
RI Gen L § 45-4-13 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-4 - Election and Qualification of Officers|Section 45-4-13 - Bond of tax collectors.

§ 45-4-13. Bond of tax collectors.(a) Every collector of taxes shall give bond, with sufficient surety, for the faithful performance of his or her trust, to the town treasurer of the town for which the collector is chosen, in any sum the town or the town council determines, not exceeding double the amount of the tax with the collection of which the collector is charged. Whenever any town elects its town treasurer as collector of taxes for the town, the bond to be given by the collector under the provisions of this section shall be given to the town, and delivered to the town council for safekeeping, and upon the happening of any breach of the condition of the bond, an action on the bond may be commenced in the name of the town to which it was given.(b) Any collector of taxes, for any fire district that is covered by any other bond held by the district which gives sufficient coverage and protection for his or her duties as determined by the board of commissioners of the district, is exempt from the requirements of this section.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 39, § 17; G.L. 1909, ch. 49, § 17; G.L. 1923, ch. 50, § 17; G.L. 1938, ch. 332, § 13; G.L. 1956, § 45-4-13; P.L. 1997, ch. 338, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-4-14 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-4 - Election and Qualification of Officers|Section 45-4-14 - Powers of successor tax collectors.

§ 45-4-14. Powers of successor tax collectors.In case of the death, resignation, or removal of any collector of taxes, the collector who is appointed to complete the collection of taxes has the same power to collect taxes as is by law given to the collector first appointed.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 39, § 18; G.L. 1909, ch. 49, § 18; G.L. 1923, ch. 50, § 18; G.L. 1938, ch. 332, § 14; G.L. 1956, § 45-4-14.
RI Gen L § 45-4-15 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-4 - Election and Qualification of Officers|Section 45-4-15 - Tenure of town officers.

§ 45-4-15. Tenure of town officers.All town officers shall hold their offices until the next election of town officers, and thereafter until their successors are lawfully qualified to act, except where it is expressly provided to the contrary.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 39, § 19; G.L. 1909, ch. 49, § 19; G.L. 1923, ch. 50, § 19; G.L. 1938, ch. 332, § 15; G.L. 1956, § 45-4-15.
RI Gen L § 45-4-16 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-4 - Election and Qualification of Officers|Section 45-4-16 - Filling of vacancies in office.

§ 45-4-16. Filling of vacancies in office.(a) Whenever a vacancy occurs in any office by death, removal out of town, resignation, or by neglect or refusal to qualify, or for any other cause, the town council may fill the office until the next town meeting for the election of officers. Whenever from any cause there are vacancies in the town council of any town, so that there are not sufficient members to form a quorum, the town clerk shall call a special town meeting in the manner provided by law for calling special town meetings, at which meeting, or at any subsequent meeting called for that purpose, vacancies shall be filled in the manner provided for the election of officers.(b) Whenever a vacancy occurs in the town council of the town of West Warwick, and the town council for any reason fails to fill the vacancy within thirty (30) days after the office becomes vacant, then the town clerk shall call for a special election in the manner provided by law; however, no special election shall be called where the vacancy occurs within nine (9) months of the next general election.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 39, § 20; G.L. 1909, ch. 49, § 20; P.L. 1910, ch. 640, § 40; G.L. 1923, ch. 50, § 20; G.L. 1938, ch. 332, § 16; G.L. 1956, § 45-4-16; P.L. 1986, ch. 304, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-4-17 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-4 - Election and Qualification of Officers|Section 45-4-17 - Special statutes controlling.

§ 45-4-17. Special statutes controlling.The provisions of this chapter are subject to the provisions of any special statutes respecting any particular town or city, none of which are repealed by this section; provided, that no elected or appointed official or member of a board or commission, or employee of any city or town, shall be disqualified in that capacity because he or she serves as a delegate to a constitutional convention of the state, or other unpaid position with the state.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 39, § 22; G.L. 1909, ch. 49, § 22; G.L. 1923, ch. 50, § 22; G.L. 1938, ch. 332, § 18; G.L. 1956, § 45-4-17; P.L. 1966, ch. 56, § 1; P.L. 1988, ch. 142, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-4-18 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-4 - Election and Qualification of Officers|Section 45-4-18 - Application to voting machine meetings.

§ 45-4-18. Application to voting machine meetings.The provisions of this chapter govern elective meetings held in accordance with the provisions of chapter 19 of title 17, if and so far as they are applicable and not inconsistent with the provisions of chapter 19 of title 17.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 39, § 23; G.L. 1909, ch. 49, § 23; G.L. 1923, ch. 50, § 23; G.L. 1938, ch. 332, § 19; G.L. 1956, § 45-4-18.
RI Gen L § 45-4-19 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-4 - Election and Qualification of Officers|Section 45-4-19 - Combination of voting districts for special city council election in the city of Pawtucket.

§ 45-4-19. Combination of voting districts for special city council election in the city of Pawtucket.(a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general or public laws to the contrary, the Pawtucket board of canvassers shall combine councilmatic voting districts for a special primary election and special election in 2018 to fill a vacancy on the Pawtucket city council. The districts shall be combined so that there shall be at least one voting district in each of the six (6) council wards in the city.(b) Once the voting districts are combined as provided in subsection (a), the local board must advertise the combination of districts in a newspaper of general circulation in the city no less than seven (7) days before the special primary election and again no less than seven (7) days prior to the special election.History of Section.P.L. 2018, ch. 1, § 1; P.L. 2018, ch. 3, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-4-20 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-4 - Election and Qualification of Officers|Section 45-4-20 - Combination of voting districts for 2019 special town council election in the town of Barrington.

§ 45-4-20. Combination of voting districts for 2019 special town council election in the town of Barrington.(a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general or public laws to the contrary and solely for purposes of a 2019 special town council election, only the Barrington board of canvassers shall combine all town council districts into one voting district.(b) Once the voting districts are combined, as provided in subsection (a), the local board shall advertise this one-time-only combination of districts, in a newspaper of general circulation in the town, no less than seven (7) days prior to the special election.History of Section.P.L. 2019, ch. 1, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 2, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-4-21 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-4 - Election and Qualification of Officers|Section 45-4-21 - Combination of voting precincts for special school committee election in the town of Coventry.

§ 45-4-21. Combination of voting precincts for special school committee election in the town of Coventry.(a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general or public laws to the contrary, the Coventry board of canvassers shall combine school committee voting precincts for a special election in 2019 to fill a vacancy on the Coventry School Committee. The precincts shall be combined so that there shall be two (2) voting precincts. Voting shall take place at Summit Baptist Church and Maple Root Baptist Church.(b) Once the voting precincts are combined as provided in subsection (a), the local board shall advertise the combination precincts in a newspaper of general circulation in the town no less than seven (7) days prior to the special election.History of Section.P.L. 2019, ch. 5, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 6, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-5-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-5 - Councils and Governing Bodies|Section 45-5-1 - Management of affairs of town.

§ 45-5-1. Management of affairs of town.The town council of each town has full power to manage the affairs and interests of the town, and to determine all matters and things as by law come within its jurisdiction.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 40, § 4; G.L. 1909, ch. 50, § 4; G.L. 1923, ch. 51, § 4; G.L. 1938, ch. 333, § 4; G.L. 1956, § 45-5-1.
RI Gen L § 45-5-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-5 - Councils and Governing Bodies|Section 45-5-2 - Probate meetings.

§ 45-5-2. Probate meetings.Town councils in towns where the council has probate jurisdiction shall hold regular meetings for the transaction of council and probate business as often as once in each month, at a time in the month and at a place within the town that the council shall by general order fix and determine.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 40, § 2; G.L. 1909, ch. 50, § 2; G.L. 1923, ch. 51, § 2; G.L. 1938, ch. 333, § 2; G.L. 1956, § 45-5-2.
RI Gen L § 45-5-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-5 - Councils and Governing Bodies|Section 45-5-3 - Quorum - Majority required for action.

§ 45-5-3. Quorum — Majority required for action.A majority of the persons elected as members of any town council shall be a quorum and a majority of the members present at any legal meeting may determine any matter legally before them.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 40, § 1; G.L. 1909, ch. 50, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 51, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 333, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 45-5-3.
RI Gen L § 45-5-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-5 - Councils and Governing Bodies|Section 45-5-4 - Continuation of business from time to time.

§ 45-5-4. Continuation of business from time to time.Town councils sitting either for the transaction of council or probate business may continue from time to time any business pending before them which may be undisposed of and, whenever from any cause a quorum of the council is not present at the time for any regular meeting of the council, the council clerk shall continue all business and proceedings returnable to or pending before the council to the next regular meeting of the council. All parties in interest notified or cited to appear before the council shall be held to appear before the council at the time during which the proceedings or business may be continued, in the same way and with the same effect in all respects as they were held to appear at the meeting from which the business or proceedings were continued.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 40, § 3; G.L. 1909, ch. 50, § 3; G.L. 1923, ch. 51, § 3; G.L. 1938, ch. 333, § 3; G.L. 1956, § 45-5-4.
RI Gen L § 45-5-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-5 - Councils and Governing Bodies|Section 45-5-5 - Clerk of council.

§ 45-5-5. Clerk of council.The town clerk is clerk of the town council. Whenever any town clerk does not appear at the time and place appointed for the meeting of the town council, the town council may appoint a clerk pro tempore, who, after being duly engaged, shall do and perform all the duties enjoined by law on the town clerk as clerk of the town council.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 40, § 10; G.L. 1909, ch. 50, § 10; G.L. 1923, ch. 51, § 10; G.L. 1938, ch. 333, § 10; G.L. 1956, § 45-5-5.
RI Gen L § 45-5-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-5 - Councils and Governing Bodies|Section 45-5-6 - Filling of vacancies in office.

§ 45-5-6. Filling of vacancies in office.In case of vacancy in the office of any officer whom a town or town council is authorized to elect, the town council may elect a suitable person to fill the vacancy.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 40, § 9; G.L. 1909, ch. 50, § 9; G.L. 1923, ch. 51, § 9; G.L. 1938, ch. 333, § 9; G.L. 1956, § 45-5-6.
RI Gen L § 45-5-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-5 - Councils and Governing Bodies|Section 45-5-7 - Town clerk pro tempore.

§ 45-5-7. Town clerk pro tempore.Whenever it satisfactorily appears to the town council that the town clerk is disqualified, from any cause whatsoever, to exercise and perform the several duties of his or her office, it may and shall appoint a town clerk pro tempore, who is qualified as provided in this chapter, and is authorized to perform all the duties of town clerk, until the disability of the town clerk is, in the opinion of the town council, removed, or until a town clerk is legally elected by the town.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 40, § 11; G.L. 1909, ch. 50, § 11; G.L. 1923, ch. 51, § 11; G.L. 1938, ch. 333, § 11; G.L. 1956, § 45-5-7.
RI Gen L § 45-5-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-5 - Councils and Governing Bodies|Section 45-5-8 - Suspension or removal of surveyor of highways.

§ 45-5-8. Suspension or removal of surveyor of highways.In case of the incapacity of any surveyor of highways, or of any tyrannical and unwarrantable exercise by the surveyor of the powers of his or her office, the town council may, after giving the surveyor notice that the council deems reasonable, either suspend or altogether remove the surveyor from his or her office and appoint another in his or her place.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 40, § 12; G.L. 1909, ch. 50, § 12; G.L. 1923, ch. 51, § 12; G.L. 1938, ch. 333, § 12; G.L. 1956, § 45-5-8.
RI Gen L § 45-5-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-5 - Councils and Governing Bodies|Section 45-5-9 - Election of town auditors.

§ 45-5-9. Election of town auditors.In addition to the other officers that the town council of any town is authorized to elect, the town council of any town may elect one or more town auditors, prescribe their duties by ordinance, and fix their compensation.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 40, § 42; P.L. 1909, ch. 402, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 51, § 45; G.L. 1938, ch. 333, § 48; G.L. 1956, § 45-5-9.
RI Gen L § 45-5-10 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-5 - Councils and Governing Bodies|Section 45-5-10 - Fees for licenses and commissions issued to officers.

§ 45-5-10. Fees for licenses and commissions issued to officers.Town councils and city councils are authorized to charge and collect for licenses and commissions issued to officers elected or appointed by them, fees that the town and city councils, respectively, fix by ordinance or resolution; provided, that the license fee for appointment of town constable with power to serve civil process in accordance with § 9-5-10.1 is not less than five dollars ($5.00) and not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00).History of Section.P.L. 1897, ch. 474, § 1; G.L. 1909, ch. 50, § 36; P.L. 1916, ch. 1360, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 51, § 39; G.L. 1938, ch. 333, § 39; G.L. 1956, § 45-5-10; P.L. 2015, ch. 260, § 38; P.L. 2015, ch. 275, § 38.
RI Gen L § 45-5-11 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-5 - Councils and Governing Bodies|Section 45-5-11 - Burial lands and funds.

§ 45-5-11. Burial lands and funds.(a) Town councils may take and hold, to them and their successors in office, all lands within their towns, conveyed to them in trust for burial purposes and, in like manner, may receive, hold, and manage all funds conveyed to them for the purpose of ornamenting or keeping in repair these burial lots within their towns, and execute the trusts in accordance with the terms contained in the instruments of conveyance. Funds received, or already received, may be placed in a general burial lot fund and this fund may be invested in securities which are legal for investment of funds of savings banks in this state. The earnings of this fund shall be apportioned to the various individual trusts in the proportion each trust, including any undisbursed earnings, bears in relation to the total of the general burial lot fund. Funds received or already received for the purpose of ornamenting or keeping in repair burial lots in town-owned cemeteries may be placed in a general burial lot fund, and this fund may be invested in securities which are legal for investment of funds of savings banks in this state. The earnings of this fund shall be apportioned to the individual trusts in the proportion that the principal of each trust bears in relation to the total principal in the general burial lot fund.(b) Effective July 1, 1976, the town of Bristol shall not apportion the earned income of the fund, and it shall be used for maintenance of the entire burial ground.(c) Effective July 1, 1979, the towns of Tiverton and Richmond shall not apportion the earned income of their respective funds, and it shall be used for maintenance of their entire burial grounds.(d) Effective July 1, 2013, the town of Middletown shall not apportion the earned income of the fund, and it shall be used for maintenance of the entire burial ground.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 40, § 35; G.L. 1909, ch. 50, § 37; G.L. 1923, ch. 51, § 40; G.L. 1938, ch. 333, § 40; P.L. 1945, ch. 1662, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 45-5-11; P.L. 1976, ch. 13, § 1; P.L. 1979, ch. 34, § 1; P.L. 1979, ch. 114, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch. 261, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch. 363, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-5-12 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-5 - Councils and Governing Bodies|Section 45-5-12 - Neglected burial grounds.

§ 45-5-12. Neglected burial grounds.(a) Town councils may also take possession of and hold ancient, neglected, or abandoned burial grounds including historic cemeteries as defined in § 23-18-1(5), whenever they can take possession without opposition from the persons interested in those grounds. The councils may take, hold, and manage in trust all funds given to the councils to keep these grounds in repair or for ornamenting or improving these grounds, and may in their discretion appropriate from the treasury of their towns money for the purpose of keeping in repair, preserving the monuments in, and maintaining any neglected burial ground.(b) Any person interested in caring for burial ground described in subsection (a) which has not been maintained and the owner of which is unknown or whose present address is unknown, may petition the town council for permission to clean up and maintain that burial ground at the person's own expense. Upon approval of this petition on any conditions the council may deem appropriate, the council shall cause an advertisement to be placed in a local newspaper providing notice that the burial ground is to be entered and cleaned up and thereafter maintained, and notifying persons with a property interest in this burial ground who have objections to come forward by a date certain.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 40, § 36; G.L. 1909, ch. 50, § 38; G.L. 1923, ch. 51, § 41; G.L. 1938, ch. 333, § 41; G.L. 1956, § 45-5-12; P.L. 1995, ch. 338, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-5-13 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-5 - Councils and Governing Bodies|Section 45-5-13 - Administration of oaths and engagements.

§ 45-5-13. Administration of oaths and engagements.The town council of any town, and each of the members of the town council, may administer oaths in any matter pending before the council, and may engage town officers upon their warrants or commissions, and a record shall be made, or a certificate given, of these engagements.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 40, § 38; G.L. 1909, ch. 50, § 40; G.L. 1923, ch. 51, § 43; G.L. 1938, ch. 333, § 43; G.L. 1956, § 45-5-13.
RI Gen L § 45-5-14 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-5 - Councils and Governing Bodies|Section 45-5-14 - Subpoena of witnesses.

§ 45-5-14. Subpoena of witnesses.Every town council, city council, school committee, or any committee of any of these bodies, may, by their presiding officers, issue subpoenas to witnesses to testify in any manner pending before them, may administer oaths to these witnesses, may compel their attendance, and may punish them for nonattendance by a fine not exceeding twenty dollars ($20.00).History of Section.C.P.A. 1905, § 360; G.L. 1909, ch. 292, § 6; G.L. 1923, ch. 342, § 6; G.L. 1938, ch. 537, § 4; G.L. 1956, § 45-5-14.
RI Gen L § 45-5-15 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-5 - Councils and Governing Bodies|Section 45-5-15 - Bonds given to council.

§ 45-5-15. Bonds given to council.In every case where bonds are required by law to be given to any town council, they may be given to the town council by name, without naming the persons at the time constituting the town council, and may be sued in the same manner.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 40, § 39; G.L. 1909, ch. 50, § 41; G.L. 1923, ch. 51, § 44; G.L. 1938, ch. 333, § 47; G.L. 1956, § 45-5-15.
RI Gen L § 45-5-16 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-5 - Councils and Governing Bodies|Section 45-5-16 - Appeals from orders and decrees.

§ 45-5-16. Appeals from orders and decrees.Any person aggrieved by any order or decree of a town council may appeal to the superior court for the county in which the town is located, within forty (40) days after the order or decree is made, unless another provision is made.History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 40, § 40; C.P.A. 1905, § 1097; G.L. 1909, ch. 50, § 42; G.L. 1923, ch. 51, § 46; G.L. 1938, ch. 333, § 49; G.L. 1956, § 45-5-16.