ARTICLE 15. - INAUGURATION AND AMENDMENT TO CHARTER

Footnotes:

--- (16) --- Editor's note— An amendment of 11-6-2012(12), amended the title of Article 15 to read as herein set out. The former Article 15 title was Inauguration, Succession and Amendment to Charter.

CHAPTER 1. - INAUGURATION OF CHARTER GOVERNMENT#

Sec. 15-1-1. - Effective date.#

All of the provisions of this Charter which do not require validation by the General Assembly shall become effective on the first Monday following the certification by the board of canvassers of the adoption of this Charter by the qualified electors of the Town of Narragansett; and all employees, including the town manager, departments and agencies, shall be appointed and qualified pursuant to the provisions of this Charter as promptly as possible.

Sec. 15-1-2. - Transfer of appropriations.#

The council shall have authority to make any changes or transfers in appropriations existing when this Charter takes effect which may be required for the operation of the town government under the provisions of this Charter.

Sec. 15-1-3. - Ordinances to implement Charter.#

The town council shall proceed to enact or adopt as promptly as possible all ordinances, resolutions, rules and regulations which may be necessary to implement the provisions of this Charter.

Sec. 15-1-4. - Continuation of laws.#

The laws of the state in their application shall continue in effect except insofar as they are inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter or any legally adopted ordinance of the town.

Sec. 15-1-5. - Continuance of ordinances.#

All ordinances, resolutions, rules and regulations of the town in force at the time when this Charter takes effect, not inconsistent with this Charter, shall continue in force until amended or repealed.

Sec. 15-1-6. - Continuation of tax obligation.#

All taxes levied or assessed by the town prior to the effective date of this Charter, which have not been collected by the town shall be collected with any interest and penalties thereon, by the town government hereby established, in accordance with law.

Sec. 15-1-7. - Pending actions and proceedings.#

No action or proceedings, civil or criminal, in law or in equity, pending at the time when this Charter shall take effect, brought by or against the town, or any office, department or agency or officer thereof, shall be affected or abated by the adoption of this Charter or by anything in this Charter contained.

Sec. 15-1-8. - Continuation of agencies.#

All commissions, boards, departments or employees, whether elective or appointive, shall continue in the performance of their powers, duties and functions until successors have been elected or appointed as provided by this Charter to perform their respective powers, duties and functions.

CHAPTER 2. - AMENDMENT OF CHARTER#

Footnotes:

--- (17) --- Editor's note— An amendment of 11-6-2012(12), repealed the former Chapter 2, §§ 15-2-1—15-2-5, and renumbered former Chapter 3, §§ 15-3-1—15-3-3 as a new Chapter 2. The former Chapter 2 pertained to succession in government and derived from the referendum of November 3, 1998.

Sec. 15-2-1. - Amendment of Charter.#

This Charter may be amended at any time, or a new Charter adopted in the manner provided by the State Constitution. Should two (2) or more amendments adopted at the same election having conflicting provisions, the one (1) receiving the largest affirmative vote shall prevail. The sections of any amendments in addition to this Charter shall be numbered by the town clerk and inserted in their appropriate places or added to the Charter.

(Amd. of 11-6-2012(12))

Sec. 15-2-2. - Form of ballot.#

It shall not be necessary for the full text of a Charter or amendments to a Charter to be printed upon the ballot. Any digest or description thereof or any question or statement which substantially expresses the purpose or identifies the subject matter to be voted upon shall be sufficient. When any question is to be submitted to the voters, the council shall approve the statement of the question as it shall appear on the ballot.

(Amd. of 11-6-2012(12))

Sec. 15-2-3. - Partial invalidity.#

If any section or part of a section of this Charter shall be held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such holding shall not affect the remainder of this Charter, nor the context in which such section or part of a section so held invalid may appear, except to the extent that an entire section or part of a section may be inseparably connected in meaning and effect with the section or part of a section to which such holdings shall directly apply; and if any section or part of a section concerned with election procedures shall be held invalid by such court, the pertinent election procedures set forth in the laws of the State of Rhode Island shall apply.

(Amd. of 11-6-2012(12))