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Sec. 2-221. - Definitions.#
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Agency means any private, non-profit organization with tax-exempt status which is or will provide direct and qualified service to qualified town citizens.
Committee means the Reynolds Charitable Trust Committee.
Council means the Exeter Town Council.
Extraordinary circumstances shall mean extenuating or urgent circumstances relating to clearly demonstrated special conditions or needs which, due to catastrophe, moral imperative, public policy or emergency, require substantial charitable assistance form the trust compatible with the general intent of testator.
Income limits means most recent low to moderate income limits utilized by the Rhode Island Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program, or such other generally recognized criteria as may be adopted by ordinance.
Needy means any qualified resident in necessitous circumstances. Such necessitous circumstances may arise out of needs including but not limited to food, clothing, shelter, senior services, literacy, education, and healthcare.
Qualified resident means any needy individual who meets income limits and is a resident under the meanings defined herein.
Resident means any person who actually and presently resides, and has also established actual domiciled residency, in the town for at least 12 consecutive months, next preceding the submission of a timely and complete application for a grant. Allowable temporary absences from residency, as defined above, shall include military, education, and medical reasons.
Trust means the Reynolds Charitable Trust.
(Ord. of 11-6-00, § 1)
Sec. 2-222. - Creation of Reynolds Charitable Trust.#
Pursuant to the will of John Reynolds (dated August 24, 1844) and the judgment of the Superior Court of the State of Rhode Island, Washington County (rendered on April 30, 1999), the Reynolds Charitable Trust is hereby created from funds donated to the town by Captain John Reynolds and shall be considered a charitable trust as defined by G.L. 1956, § 18-9-4, as amended. The funds shall be used for the "accommodation and the betterment of unfortunate persons" of the town. The town council shall serve the trust as trustee without compensation. The trustees or their designees shall manage the trust and shall approve and award all grants and expenditures from the trust.
(Ord. of 11-6-00, § 2)
Sec. 2-223. - Creation of the Reynolds Charitable Trust Committee.#
The Reynolds Charitable Trust Committee is hereby created for the sole purpose of identifying and recommending worthy recipients of grants to the council. The committee shall report its recommendations to the town council in a timely fashion.
(Ord. of 11-6-00, § 3)
Sec. 2-224. - Appointments.#
The committee shall consist of five members appointed by the town council, each to serve a term of three years and until his or her successor is appointed and qualified. Persons appointed to the committee shall be chosen on the basis of merit, ability, expertise and character. The committee shall be "nonpartisan" in that political affiliation shall not be criteria of consideration in selection. After appointment of the first committee, the members thereof shall meet and be divided by lot into three groups, the terms of office of one group expiring in one year from the day of their appointment, those of another group in two years, and those of the remaining group in three years. With the expiration of the term of office of any member the vacancy shall be filled by the town council for the term of three years. Vacancies occurring by resignation, removal, death, or otherwise, shall be filled as above for the unexpired term thereof.
(Ord. of 11-6-00, § 4)
Sec. 2-226. - Duties.#
The committee shall annually assume the following duties and commence deliberations beginning on August 1, 1999 and on each anniversary date thereafter: (1)
In its deliberations, the committee shall follow the qualifying criteria, priorities, requirements and guidelines delineated in this article. The committee shall make every effort to recommend funding requests meeting the criteria of section 2-227(1) on a first priority basis.
(2)
The committee will meet quarterly, commencing on or about the thirtieth day of the fiscal year of the town, to review applications for grants and to offer recommendations to the council for recipients of grants in a timely manner.
(3)
The committee shall also prepare an annual fiduciaries report of the trust for the last preceding fiscal year as required by G.L. 1956, § 18-9-13, as amended, showing the assets so held and administered, the receipts and expenditures in connection therewith, the names and addresses of the beneficiaries thereof, and such other information as the attorney general may require. The town council, acting as trustee, shall review and approve such annual reports and shall annually authorize payment form the trust of such annual filing fees as may be required by law. The town council may also, from time to time, retain fiscal advisers, auditors or professional assistance in preparation and examination of such reports, as it may deem necessary, in its sole discretion. The costs and fees of any such advisers and professional may be paid from trust assets as allowable expenditures.
(Ord. of 11-6-00, § 6)
Sec. 2-227. - Qualifying criteria; order of priority.#
The following criteria constitute qualification for grant consideration by the committee. Prior to approving any grant, all requests will be ranked by priority according to the following: (1)
Programs and facilities providing services to needy town residents as defined above.
(2)
Educational programs, facilities and services designed primarily reach needy town residents meeting income limits and residency rules. (Includes scholarships to qualified needy persons meeting residency and income requirements as defined).
(3)
Programs and services promoting charitable, personal improvement, physical or mental health benefits or recreation, directed as closely as possible to segments of the town population referred to in paragraph (1) above, and meeting general criteria set forth in section 2-229.
(Ord. of 11-6-00, § 7)
Sec. 2-228. - Eligible expenditures.#
(a)
New and/or existing programs or projects meeting criteria outlined in section 2-227. Components qualified for funding include administrative, personnel, strategic planning and equipment costs.
(b)
Materials and capital needs for projects meeting criteria outlined in section 2-227(3) above.
(c)
Charitable and public welfare programs and organizations serving the needy and deserving of continued support meeting the general requirements of section 2-229.
(d)
Administrative and professional fees relative to Reynolds Charitable Trust investment, management and administration.
(e)
General municipal services (including fire, police, and schools) are not eligible for funding unless the particular proposal is specifically targeted to benefit those in need.
(Ord. of 11-6-00, § 8)
Sec. 2-229. - General grant recipient requirements.#
(a)
To be eligible for grant of Reynolds Charitable Trust funds, an agency must be a private, nonprofit organization with tax-exempt status, providing direct and qualified service to town citizens.
(b)
Reynolds Charitable Trust proceeds will not fund deficits.
(c)
Religious organizations may be funded relative to qualified, nonsectarian services.
(d)
Personal grants will only be given to qualified residents in need according to the guideline stated herein.
(Ord. of 11-6-00, § 9)
Sec. 2-230. - Charitable trust disbursement guidelines.#
(a)
No grant (or series of grants to one person, agency or entity in a single fiscal year) will exceed $5,000.00, except where extraordinary circumstances, as defined, are demonstrated. Total annual expenditures shall not exceed the annual interest earned on the fund corpus without prior court approval. The fund corpus shall initially be determined as the balance of the fund as of August 1, 1998.
(b)
No person shall make use of, or cause to be used, any personal information provided by an applicant incident to the trust's grantmaking process for process for purposes not directly related to the administration or business of the trust, except with the consent of the applicant.
(c)
Every effort shall be made to fund requests meeting the criteria of section 2-227(1) on a first priority basis.
(Ord. of 11-6-00, § 10)
Sec. 2-231. - Rule making; amendments; administration.#
All ordinances, bylaws and rules adopted by the town and all amendments thereto relative to the trust and the trust committee shall be promptly provided to the attorney general of the state upon promulgation and passage, and shall otherwise be adopted in accordance with the procedures defined by the Town Charter and Code of Ordinances.
(Ord. of 11-6-00, § 11)