The people of the City of Woonsocket, in order to secure the right of self government in all local matters pursuant to the provisions of the constitution of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation, do adopt and establish this home rule charter.
The name of the city shall be “City of Woonsocket”.
The inhabitants of the city shall continue to be a body corporate and politic and as such shall have, exercise, and enjoy all the rights, immunities, powers and privileges and shall be subject to all the duties and obligations pertaining to and incumbent upon the city as a municipal corporation.
The city shall have all powers of local self government and home rule and all powers possible for a city to have under the constitution of the state. The city also shall have such additional powers as now or hereafter may be granted to the city by the laws of the state.
All powers of the city shall be exercised in the manner prescribed by this charter or, if not so prescribed, then in such manner as shall be provided by ordinance or resolution of the council.
The laws of the state not inconsistent with the state constitution shall have the same force and effect in the city as local laws. (Election of 11-6-01)
In the event of conflict between any city ordinance or resolution and any law, other than a law enacted in conformity with the powers reserved to the general assembly by the constitution, the provisions of the ordinance or resolution shall prevail and control.
The city shall have full power and authority to act in all local and municipal matters and to adopt local laws and ordinances relating to its property, affairs and government.
The enumeration of any particular power in this charter shall in no case be held to be exclusive. All such powers shall be construed as in addition and supplementary to the powers conferred in general terms.
The legislative powers of the city shall be vested in the city council subject to the provisions of this charter and the constitution of the state.
If this charter shall not have been reviewed at sometime during the period of ten (10) years, the mayor shall appoint a Woonsocket Home Rule Charter Review Commission to update and review the charter. (Election of 11-3-87)
Every word importing the masculine gender shall extend to and be applied to females as well as males. (Election of 11-3-87)
An employee is a person who is compensated for his services to the city.
An officer or public official, in its broader sense, refers primarily, if not solely, to a person who may or may not be an employee of the city, but who is either elected or appointed to a definite term of office to customarily perform general public or governmental duties as part of regular administration of government, and in whom a portion of sovereignty is vested or reposed to render him independent of direction from a superior and in whom enforcement of governmental regulations or control of general interests of society is confided; and who can not qualify for his said office without first taking an oath required by this charter or by state or local law. (Election of 11-6-01)