(Cross references--Nonresidential board of review, Sec. 7-92 et seq.; division of building services, Sec. 7-136 et seq.; bureau of fire prevention, Secs. 8-1, 8-2; housing board of review, Sec. 12-91 et seq.; personnel ordinance, App. A.)
| Art. I. | In General, Secs. 2-1--2-14.5 |
| | |
| Art. II. | Officers and Employees Generally, Secs. 2-15--2-36 |
| | |
| Art. III. | Clothing and Equipment Allowance of Fire and Police Divisions, Secs. 2-37--2-55 |
| | |
| Art. IV. | Historic District Commission, Secs. 2-56--2-69 |
| | |
| Art. V. | Tax Exemption for Wholesaler's Inventory, Secs. 2-70--2-85 |
| | |
| Art. VI. | Woonsocket Heritage Corridor Planning and Advisory Commission, Secs. 2-86--2-100 |
| | |
| Art. VII. | Economic Development, Secs. 2-101--2-150 |
Div. 1. Generally, Secs. 2-101--2-110
Div. 2. Economic Development and Business Committee, Secs. 2-111-- 2-120
Div. 3. Department of Economic Development, Secs. 2-121--2-150
| Art. VIII. | Juvenile Hearing Board, Secs. 2-151--2-155 |
| | |
| Art. IX. | Tax Sales |
(Charter references--Corporate powers, duties generally, Ch. I, Sec. 3; general grant of powers to city, Ch. I, Sec. 4; exercise of powers of city, Ch. I, Sec. 5; legislative powers of city vested in council, Ch. I, Sec. 10; assessments generally, Ch. VI; tax revaluation survey, Ch. VI, Art. 2; budget and finance generally, Ch. VII; appropriations and tax levy, Ch. VII, Art. 2; bonds, Ch. VII, Art. 8; purchasing generally, Ch. VIII; elections generally, Ch. XV.)
The seal of the city shall represent a view of Woonsocket Falls with the following words thereon, "City of Woonsocket, R.I., Incorporated 1888."
(Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 2, Sec. 3)
The following shall be the device of the seal of the mayor of the city, to wit: A circle containing the words, "Seal of the Mayor, Woonsocket, R.I." within which circle shall also be a view of Woonsocket Falls.
(Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 2, Sec. 3)
The seal of the probate court of this city shall represent a view of Woonsocket Falls, and shall have in the margin thereof the words "Probate Court, Woonsocket, R.I."
(Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 2, Sec. 4)
Charter reference--Probate court generally, Ch. XIII.
Regular sessions of the probate court shall be held on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m., and at such other times, from time to time, specially ordered by the judge of probate.
(Rev. Ords. 1928, Ch. 30, Sec. 1; Ch. No. 2426, Sec. 1, 7-7-69; Ch. No. 3892, Sec. 1, 6-15-81; Ch. No. 4120, Sec. 1, 4-4-83)
(a) By virtue of the power and authority contained in Chapter VIII, Section 3 of the City of Woonsocket Home Rule Charter, so-called, the city council of the City of Woonsocket does hereby direct the finance department of the City of Woonsocket, through its purchasing agent, to award all contracts and purchases made by the City of Woonsocket to business establishments doing business within the City of Woonsocket even though said business establishments shall not be the lowest bidders, whenever the net bid or net quotation of such business establishments, after being reduced by amounts represented in the following schedule, become the lowest bid or quotation:
| 0 to $1000 | 5% |
| $1000.01 to $4999.99 | 3% |
| $5000.00 or more | State law shall apply provided, however, that the provisions of this section shall become operative only in the event that the said purchasing agent shall have satisfied himself that said business establishments have complied with the specifications provided and with all other purchasing requirements. |
(b) Whenever a contract shall be awarded or a purchase made by virtue of the provisions of subsection (a) hereof, said contract or purchase shall be made at the net bid or net quotation and not at the net bid or net quotation obtained by applying the above percentage reduction to the net bid or net quote.
(Ch. No. 1189, Secs. 1, 2, 9-3-57; Ch. No. 5898, Sec. 1, 6-6-94)
If any individual or entity owes taxes, charges, assessments or fines to the City of Woonsocket, they shall nonetheless be allowed to submit proposals or bids in response to solicitations, requests for bids or quotations or verbal requests for proposals or pricing from the City in accordance with the Woonsocket Home Rule Charter Chapter VIII; provided, however, that all overdue monies owed to the City shall be paid in full prior to the execution of any bid award or purchase order to or in favor of said individual or entity.
(Ch. No. 5634, Sec. 1, 12-8-92; Ch. No. 8390, Sec. 1, 8-21-2023)
No professional services contract utilizing city funds, based on either time and materials or labor hours, shall be awarded unless said contract or agreement includes a provision whereby the supplier must notify the city, in writing, within two (2) business days before expending beyond eighty (80) percent of the total allocated funds. Failure of the supplier to notify the city may result in the withholding of payments to the contractor.
(Ch. No. 6007, Sec. 1, 12-19-94)
Editor's note--Ch. 6007, Sec. 1, adopted Dec. 19, 1994, enacted provisions designated as Sec. 2-5.1A. Such provisions have been redesignated as Sec. 2-5.2 to read as herein set out.
(a) It is hereby declared to be for the best interests of the City of Woonsocket that traffic controls and traffic control repair parts be standardized.
(b) The director of public works is hereby empowered to determine and select the make and type of traffic controls and traffic control repair parts so to be standardized.
(c) The purchasing agent of the City of Woonsocket is hereby authorized and empowered to order and purchase said standardized traffic controls and traffic control repair parts without the requirement of competitive bidding.
(d) This section is hereby declared to be an exception to Section 3, Chapter VIII of the Woonsocket Home Rule Charter which provides that all purchases made on behalf of the City shall be by competitive bidding but with such exceptions as may be provided for by ordinance.
(Ch. No. 2573, Secs. 1--4, 8-17-70)
Editor's note--Section 2-6 is derived from Ch. No. 2573, Secs. 1--4. This ordinance did not amend this Code.
The purchasing agent for the City of Woonsocket is hereby authorized to "ride" another Rhode Island city's and other government agencies' cooperative bid or vice versa and without competitive bidding as an exception provided in Woonsocket Home Rule Charter, Chapter VIII, Section 3, as in the best interest of the City of Woonsocket.
(Ch. No. 2582, Sec. 1, 10-5-70; Ch. No. 2609, Sec. 1, 12-7-70)
The purchasing agent shall each month prepare and deliver to the City Council a compilation of all purchases or contracts in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) as defined in the Woonsocket Home Rule Charter, Chapter VIII, Section 6, and made without competitive bidding. The list shall include a description of the item(s) purchased, the city or government agency bid used for the purchase, the vendor from whom the purchase is being made, and the total amount of the purchase.
(Ch. No. 7357, Sec. 1, 10-16-07)
Editor's note--Section 2-7 is derived from Ch. No. 2582, Sec. 1, as amended by Ch. No. 2609, Sec. 1. Said ordinances did not amend this Code.
An amendment or change order or group of amendments or change orders to a construction or professional services contract which has been approved by the city council by resolution shall require further approval by resolution according to the following schedule:
| Contract Amount | Total Change Order Percentage |
| Less than $5,000 | 35% or more |
| From $5,001 to $20,000 | 30% or more |
| From $20,001 to $50,000 | 25% or more |
| $50,001 or more | 20% or more |
(Ch. No. 5522, Sec. 1, 1-6-92; Ch. No. 5975, Sec. 1, 10-17-94)
The Woonsocket Defense Civil Preparedness Agency is hereby organized and established under the provisions of Section 30-15-12 of the Rhode Island Defense Civil Preparedness Act of 1973, with the authority, duties, powers and responsibilities as outlined therein.
(Ch. No. 2915, Sec. 1, 7-2-73)
Editor's note--Ch. No. 2915 did not expressly amend this Code, hence inclusion of Sec. 1 as Sec. 2-8 was at the discretion of the editors.
(a) The city tax assessor will abate any increase in the assessed valuation of any taxable residential structure resulting from repairs and alterations of a maintenance-type nature. Repairs and alterations will include, and will be limited to the following: Lawns and landscaping; paving of walks; fire escapes; retaining walls; roofing and siding (replacement or repair); porches and steps (repair); insulation, storm windows and doors; masonry repair; painting and decorating (inside or outside); plastic or wallboard repairs; plumbing fixtures (ordinary repairs); heating systems (replacement with like kind); and, any other repair and alteration which, in the opinion of the tax assessor, may fall into this category.
(b) In any case where alteration and repairs include or benefit that part of a building which is not wholly occupied or used for residential purposes, but is partly occupied by stores or otherwise used for commercial purposes, the increase in assessed valuation resulting from the alterations and repair shall be apportioned so that the benefits of this act shall not be provided for alterations or repairs made to the structure which, in the opinion of the tax assessor, is used for other than residential purposes.
(c) In the event of transfer of property, the abatement shall benefit the then current owner of property as determined by assessment roll records. The abatement will not expire upon transfer of property, but will remain in effect to benefit owner on record.
(d) The city tax assessor shall determine and certify the reasonable cost of any such alterations and repairs, and for that purpose may adopt rules and regulations, and advise city council of same.
(Ch. No. 3340, Secs. 1--4, 4-18-77)
Editor's note--Ch. No. 3340, Secs. 1--4, adopted April 18, 1977, did not specifically amend the Code, hence codification herein as Sec. 2-9 was at the discretion of the editor.
1. Establishment. Pursuant to R.I.G.L. §45-5-1 and Chapter II, Section 19 of the Woonsocket Home Rule Charter, the City Council of the City of Woonsocket (hereafter called "the City Council") hereby establishes the "Woonsocket Financial Audit Committee" (hereafter called "the Committee"), a sub-committee of the Woonsocket City Council.
2. Authority. The Committee shall have the power set forth in this Ordinance, so as to provide an independent review and oversight of the City of Woonsocket's financial reporting processes, internal controls, and independent auditors. Further, this Committee is being formed by the City in order to ensure that the City of Woonsocket properly develops and adheres to a sound system of internal controls, that procedures are in place to objectively assess the City of Woonsocket's practices, and that the independent auditors, through the Committee's own review, objectively assess the City's financial reporting practices.
3. Composition. The Committee shall consist of seven (7) members. One (1) member shall be the sitting Woonsocket City Council President; Four (4) members shall be appointed by the City Council (two (2) of which shall be council members and two (2) members shall be individuals from the private sector, who have sufficient financial experience and can provide guidance and assistance to the other Committee members); and two (2) members shall be appointed by the Woonsocket School Committee. The individuals from the public sector appointed by the City Council shall be designated to serve for a term of two (2) years concurrent with the city council term of office, and all vacancies occurring during said term shall be filled for the unexpired term. Individual members from the public sector appointed by the City Council shall be resident electors of the City of Woonsocket and said members shall sit without compensation and shall hold their position until their successors have been named or appointed. The Committee shall annually elect a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and a Secretary, all of who must be members of the Committee. A copy of all meeting minutes shall be submitted to City Council for distribution and shall be filed with the City Clerk and become a permanent record of the City. The term of office of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Secretary, unless otherwise prescribed by the City Council, shall be for the calendar year. All members of the Committee should possess or obtain a basic understanding of governmental financial reporting and auditing.
4. Purpose. The purpose of the Woonsocket Financial Audit Committee shall be as follows:
a) Provide the Woonsocket City Council with an independent review and oversight of the City of Woonsocket's financial reporting processes, internal controls, and independent auditors. Pursuant to Chapter II, Section 19, of the Home Rule Charter, the Committee shall report to the City Council on a monthly basis regarding its activities.
b) Provide a forum, separate and apart from the Administration, in which the City of Woonsocket’s auditors and other interested parties can candidly discuss concerns.
c) To ensure that the City of Woonsocket properly develops and adheres to a sound system of internal controls, that procedures are in place to objectively assess the City of Woonsocket's financial practices, and that the Committee, through its own review, objectively assess the City of Woonsocket's financial reporting practices.
d) To present annually, to the City Council, a written report of how the Committee has discharged its duties and met its responsibilities. In its report to the City Council, the Committee should specifically state that it has discussed the financial statements with the City Administration, with the independent auditors, in private or publicly, as the Rhode Island Open Meetings law would require, and privately or publicly, as the Rhode Island Open Meetings law would require among Committee members, and believe that they are fairly presented, to the extent such a determination can be made solely on the basis of such conversations.
e) To establish procedures for the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters. Such procedures should specifically provide for the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the City of Woonsocket of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters, to the extent that the Rhode Island Access to Public Records would allow.
f) To monitor controls performed directly by the Administration and/or Senior Management of the City of Woonsocket, as well as controls designed to prevent or detect the City's Administration/Senior Management override of other controls.
5. Retention of Experts. The Committee shall have the authority to retain the services of at least (I) financial expert, either a Committee Member or an outside party engaged by the Committee for this purpose. Such a financial expert should, through both education and experience, and in a manner specifically relevant to the government sector, possess (1) an understanding of generally accepted accounting principles and financial statements; (2) experience in preparing or auditing financial statements of comparable entitles; (3) experience in applying such principles in connection with the accounting for estimates, accruals, and reserves; (4) experience with internal accounting controls; and (5) an understanding of Audit Committee functions.
Should the Committee retain such a financial expert, the compensation paid to such financial expert shall be paid out of the City of Woonsocket General Fund, after approval by the City Council. The payment of such compensation to said financial expert shall require no other approval other than by the Woonsocket Financial Audit Committee and subsequent approval by the City Council and a vote of the City Council to authorize payment with a letter following to the Finance Director.
The Committee shall also be authorized to engage the services of a legal counsel and other appropriate specialists, as necessary, to fulfill its responsibilities herein. Said legal counselor other appropriate specialists, shall be compensated in the same form as set forth above for the financial expert.
6. Committee Rules. Any rules adopted by the Committee governing the conduct of Committee affairs, shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance. All rules of the Committee are subject to the approval of the City Council. Decisions of the Committee shall be by the majority of those present and voting, once a quorum has been declared by the Chairperson. In absence of any formal rules, the Committee shall be governed by Roberts Rules of Order.
7. Severability. The provisions of this Ordinance are severable, and if any provision thereof shall be held invalid in any circumstances such invalidity shall not affect any other provisions or circumstances. This Ordinance hereunder shall be construed in all respects so as to meet all constitutional requirements. In carrying out the purposes and provisions of this Ordinance hereunder, all steps shall be taken which are necessary to meet constitutional requirements whether or not such steps are required by statute.
(Ch. No. 7653, Secs. 1--10, 2-17-2012)
Editor's note--The original Section 2-10, relating to the architectural and transportation barriers advisory committee, derived from Ch. No. 3596, Secs. 1--3, adopted Mar. 19, 1979, was repealed by Sec. 1 of Ch. No. 5709, adopted Feb. 1, 1993.
(a) Authorized. The city council of the City of Woonsocket hereby grants a credit against his/her owner-occupied residential property in the amount of five hundred dollars ($500.00) annually to any person sixty-five (65) years of age or over who owns and occupies residential property located in the City of Woonsocket; provided, however, that only one (1) such exemption shall be granted to co-tenants, joint tenants and tenants by the entirety, even though all of said co-tenants or tenants by the entirety are sixty-five (65) years of age or over. Such exemption shall be granted upon proof of the following:
(1) Age.
(2) Ownership of a residential property for a period of three (3) years next prior to the filing of an application for tax exemption.
(3) Occupancy of same for a period of three (3) years next prior to the filing of an application for tax exemption.
(4) That said taxpayer is a legal resident of the City of Woonsocket.
(5) That the combined gross income of said taxpayer and his or her spouse is forty thousand dollars ($40,000.00) or less in each year for which an exemption is applied, or may be amended by state statute and allowed for the Rhode Island Property Tax Relief Claim on Form RI-1040H.
(b) Proof of right to exemption. The person entitled to such exemptions shall proceed by filing an application with proof of right to exemption. No person shall be entitled to any exemption herein authorized in any year without first filing an application with the tax assessor on forms furnished by the assessor. Each application shall be sworn to by the applicant or applicants under penalty of perjury by May 1 of each year. Proof of age, ownership, occupancy and legal residency and gross income shall be furnished in the following manner:
(1) Proof of age. Age may be proved by furnishing to the assessor either a birth certificate, certificate of citizenship, baptismal certificate, affidavit of a third party or by such other means as may be approved by the assessor.
(2) Ownership. Ownership may be established by furnishing the tax assessor with the date of purchase and land record citation of same by the applicant of the residential property involved.
(3) Occupancy. Occupancy of the residential property may be proven by incorporating such fact in the sworn application for exemption.
(4) Legal residency. Legal residency may be established by the production of one (1) voter's registration certificate or by the production of a license to operate a motor vehicle, or a registration certificate or by such other means as the assessor may reasonably require.
(5) Income. Measurement of income. The income to be used shall be as has been or would be reported on State Form RI-1040H (RI Property Tax Relief Claim) as "Total 20XX Household Income"; except that social security income will be the net amount received excluding Medicare Premiums.
(6) Other forms of proof. An applicant may provide proof of right to exemption if the above-specified methods are not available to him or her by furnishing military records, passports, certificate of citizenship, or by such other evidence of proof as may be required by the assessor.
In the event the applicants for exemption are co-tenants, joint tenants, or tenants by the entirety, the proof enumerated above by any one of the applicants shall be sufficient to be entitled to the exemption.
(c) Termination of exemption. It is further provided that all exemptions shall terminate upon the conveyance of the subject property, death of the person or persons exempted or the moving of such person or persons from the City of Woonsocket.
(Ch. No. 7710, Sec. 1, 3-26-2013; Ch. No. 8338, Sec. 1, 11-7-2022; Ch. No. 8425, Sec. 3, 1-22-2024)
(a) The City Council of the City of Woonsocket finds that certain senior citizens are in need of relief from ever-increasing real estate property taxes. Consequently, the City Council adopts the Senior Citizen Tax Deferment Program to ease the financial strain placed upon certain senior citizens.
(b) Definitions
The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section:
ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME (AGI)
That income reported to the Internal Revenue Service as adjusted gross income (AGI) for income tax purposes.
PRIMARY RESIDENCE
A developed parcel of real estate consisting of a residential dwelling used as a primary residence,
SENIOR CITIZEN
A Woonsocket resident who is 70 years of age or older.
(c) Eligibility
A person is eligible for the Senior Citizen Tax Deferment Program if that person is:
1) A senior citizen,
2) Total household AGI for the year is below $25,000 for a single senior citizen and $30,000 for a household.
3) Owns a primary residence and no other real estate.
(d) Procedure
1) A senior citizen must file annually a form to be provided by the Tax Assessor on or before April 15. Along with that form, the senior citizen shall provide proof of identity by presenting a driver's license or birth certificate with one other form of identity.
2) In addition, the senior citizen shall also present a copy of his/her federal tax return on or before April 15 annually.
3) A copy of a deed to the property shall also be presented establishing that the property is held in fee simple by the senior citizen or in his/her revocable living trust. A primary residence not held as fee simple or in a revocable living trust shall not be eligible for a deferment.
(e) Deferment
1) A qualified senior citizen shall be granted on an annual basis the deferment of any tax increase for the year including any supplemental taxes.
2) The collection of those taxes so deferred shall be deferred until the sale of the primary residence by the qualified senior or upon his/her death. No interest shall accrue on the unpaid balances.
3) A lien or similar certificate shall be filed in the land evidence records indicating that the primary residence of the qualified senior citizen is, in the deferred tax program. The office of the Finance Director shall maintain an annual list of qualified senior citizens/properties and the amounts due thereon.
(Ch. No. 7712, Sec. 1 03-26-13)
Editor's note--Ch. No. 3788, adopted Sept. 15, 1980, did not specifically amend this Code; hence inclusion of Secs. 1--3 as Sec. 2-11 was at the discretion of the editor.
(1) Said exemption shall be granted to veterans of the armed services of the United States who are deemed totally disabled by the Veteren's Administration of the United States and whose disability is connected to their service in the armed forces.
(2) The City Council hereby grants an exemption not to exceed $396.90 in credit toward each veteran's (as defined in Section 1) tax bill.
(Ch. No. 6839, Sec. 1-3, 2-19-01)
(a) Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
"Qualifying Taxpayer" means any business (other than as set forth herein), in whatever for-in operated, that currently owns or leases or anticipates owning or leasing property in the city for use in conducting such business. The phrase does not include a business that has less than forty (40) full time employees in the city or a business that is principally engaged in the city or elsewhere in making retail sales, extracting minerals or other raw materials, distributing merchandise or other goods or providing professional or similar services, which shall include but not be limited to health related services (such as medical, dental, surgical, nursing or diagnostic services), legal, accounting, engineering, drafting, architectural, real estate brokers and benefits consulting services. To be treated as a qualifying taxpayer, a business must currently employ or establish that it reasonably anticipates within 12 months that it will employ within the city at least one full time employee for every 250 square feet of office space and at least one full time employee for every 450 square feet of manufacturing and other non-office space that it owns or leases in the town. The number of full time employees of a business shall be determined using the rules set forth in R.I.G.L. 42-64.5-2 to determine the number of "full time equivalent active employees" of the business. A business leasing property to a qualifying taxpayer during a fiscal year will be treated as a qualifying taxpayer for that period if the lessee of such property qualifies as a "qualifying taxpayer" and the certification or recertification requirements set forth herein are otherwise satisfied.
"Technology Property" means any investment in (i) main frame computers, main frame computers or PC based area wide networks or PC based local area networks that include at least 25 workstations and (ii) research and development equipment to the extent such equipment would qualify for the sales and use tax exemption available in R.I.G.L. 44-18-30(43).
"Eligible Property" means in the calendar year such property is acquired any Technology Property that has been acquired by a Qualifying Taxpayer after the taxpayer has submitted a certificate to the Tax Assessor requesting that the property be certified as Technology Property and that the taxpayer be classified as a Qualifying Taxpayer and the Tax Assessor has approved such request and in any subsequent calendar year shall mean property that in the prior calendar year qualified as Eligible Property and was covered in the annual recertification request filed by the taxpayer with the Tax Assessor for the current calendar year requesting acknowledgment that the property continues to qualify as Technology Property and that the taxpayer continues to qualify as a Qualifying Taxpayer and the Assessor has approved such request. Technology Property that was acquired prior to the date the Tax Assessor acknowledged the property qualified for classification as Eligible Property shall never be eligible for the property tax exemption provided in this article. Eligible property shall not include technology property acquired to replace existing property to the extent that the acquired property value is less than or equal to the value of the property replaced. To the extent that the value of the acquired property exceeds the value of the existing property, said excess value shall be deemed eligible for this exemption.
(b) Administration. The Tax Assessor shall promulgate all certification and annual recertification forms within the requirements of this article and shall set forth the due dates for the filing of all such forms. The Tax Assessor shall respond to any completed request for certification or annual request for recertification by either approving the request or denying the request within ten (IO) business days after the completed request has been received in the office of the Tax Assessor. The Tax Assessor, to assure continued compliance with the requirements set forth herein, shall deny the exemption for Eligible Property that would otherwise be available to a Qualifying Taxpayer in any calendar year if the taxpayer fails to file a timely accounting for such year as required pursuant to R.I.G.L. 44-5-15 and to provide in connection with that filing such information as the Tax Assessor may request to establish that the taxpayer is entitled to the exemption claimed for such year. If the taxpayer cannot establish for that year that it met or continued to meet the employment requirements set forth herein, but it can establish for such year that it met at least ninety percent (90%) of those requirements, it shall be entitled for such year to a proportionate part of the exemption.
(c) Appeals. Appeals of decisions of the Tax Assessor under this article shall be to the Board of Assessment Review.
(d) Technology Property Exemption. (1) Any Qualifying Taxpayer owning during a calendar year Eligible Property shall be exempt from property tax on such property. This exemption shall not apply to any other liability against the property due to the city, such a water or sewer assessment. This exemption shall also not apply to the property tax liability attributable to subsequent periods unless the property retains its classification as Eligible Property. In addition, this exemption shall be forfeited by the owner of the property who shall be delinquent in the payment of any tax or other liability due the city, whether against such property or other property owned by the owner in the city. (2) Notwithstanding any provision in this article to the contrary, a Qualifying Taxpayer shall not be entitled to the property tax exemption set forth herein if such taxpayer moved its business operation to the city from another community in this state and the exemption would not otherwise be allowed under R.I.G.L. 44-3-3.1.
(Ch. No. 6334, Sec. 1, 3-14-97, Ch. No. 6404, Sec. 1, 9-2-97)
*Editor’s Note: This section was changed from 2-12.1 to 2-12.2 to make room for a new ordinance.
(a) Adopted. The city council of the City of Woonsocket hereby adopts "City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, Safety Rules," a copy of which is attached marked exhibit "A" and incorporated herein by reference.
(b) Promulgation. The city council of the City of Woonsocket hereby directs the mayor to promulgate said "Safety Rules" throughout the workforce and the various departments and agencies of the city.
(Ch. No. 3905, Secs. 1, 2, 8-3-81)
Editor's note--Ch. No. 3905, adopted Aug. 3, 1981, did not specifically amend this Code; hence inclusion of Secs. 1, 2 as Sec. 2-12 was at the discretion of the editor. The exhibit referred to in subsection (a) is not printed herein but is on file with the original ordinance.
No lease or rental of city-owned land to any person or agency for use as a parking facility for motor vehicles shall be executed or valid until approved by the city council.
(Ch. No. 4344, Sec. 1, 11-19-84)
Cross reference--Stopping, standing and parking, Sec. 17-70 et seq.
No collective bargaining agreement between the City of Woonsocket and any labor organization shall become effective unless and until ratified by the Woonsocket City Council.
Each collective bargaining agreement submitted to the city council for ratification shall be accompanied by a financial impact analysis for each fiscal year of the proposed bargaining agreement and a separate, complete listing of all language changes being proposed prior to consideration and vote for ratification.
At least one public hearing shall be held prior to city council ratification of any collective bargaining agreement.
(Ch. No. 7357, Sec. 2 10-16-07)
The annual audit of the financial records of the city shall be conducted by a duly licensed and certified public accountant or firm of certified public accountants in accordance with Article V of the city charter, provided that said certified public accountant or firm of certified public accountants shall not conduct the annual audit for more than six consecutive years. The auditor shall place on file with the city clerk copies of any and all correspondence, reports or requests made to the administration pertaining to the city’s annual audit. Any information deemed to be of a sensitive nature and exempted from public disclosure pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws Section 38-3-2 et seq. shall be marked accordingly after determination by the city solicitor and forwarded to the city clerk for filing for city council access only.
(Ch. No. 7357, Sec. 3, 10-16-07)
(a) The Directors and department heads of the city administration shall produce and provide the following reports to the city council as a communication at least monthly as part of the regular city council meeting agenda and docket and on the City website under their department webpage for the previous month no later that the 20th day of the following month:
1. Finance Director -
Financial reports as statutorily mandated by RIGL 45-12-22.2(b) and Chapter V, Article I, Section 6 of the City Charter; Revenue collections; Fund balances and related financial activity; Bid posting and bid award activity
2. Public Works -
Department activity status update, including an inventory of roads that have been and are planned to be reconstructed in the fiscal year, Capital equipment purchases (planned and actual for the fiscal year), Park upgrades (planned and actual for the fiscal year).
3. Public Safety
Activities/Statistics
4. Department of Planning and Development -
Ongoing/New activities; Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home Investment Partnership Program funds (HOME), HOME American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP), Emergency Solutions Grant (“ESG”) and any other federal, state or other third party funding programs of which the City is a recipient of together with the financial status of said funds; Economic development including status of new businesses, grant applications and awards concerning or connected to any and all federal, state, or other third party programs of funding sources.
5. Personnel-
Employment activity - Monthly headcount report to include Budgeted positions vs Actual positions reflecting open/vacant positions; Summary of new hires in the month, Summary of departures/vacated positions; new hires pending start dates
6. Human Services -
Ongoing and upcoming programs, city homelessness data
7. City Clerk -
Office permits issued and revenues collected
8. Library-
Circulation and other activity
(b) The city council may require additional reports be prepared and communicated to them by designated employees or independent contractors in service to the City of Woonsocket, as the city council may deem appropriate and order by resolution.
(Ch. No. 8209, Sec. 1, 12-21-2020; Ch. No. 8401, Sec. 1, 11-6-2023)
The Personnel Director shall forward all appointment letters received to the City Clerk upon receipt by the Mayor and all Directors and/or Department Heads.
(Ch. No. 8400, Sec. 1, 11-6-2023)
A. Pursuant to R.I.G.L. § 44-5-75 and R.I.G.L. § 44-5-74.1, the City of Woonsocket shall adopt a system of property tax classification and annually fix the amount, by separate ordinance, of an owner-occupied homestead exemption from local taxation on eligible real property used for residential purposes and which is owner-occupied as further defined herein.
B. All property within the City of Woonsocket shall be classified by the Tax Assessor in the following manner:
1. Class One: all ratable tangible personal property and motor vehicles;
2. Class Two: residential real estate with less than four (4) units;
3. Class Three: all commercial and industrial real estate and residential real estate with four (4) units or more, except as provided for in subsection (a).
(a) As to any residential real estate with four (4) units and wherein one or more of such units are occupied by the owner of the real estate, such four (4) unit residential real estate shall be classified as Class Two residential real estate. Said real estate shall be classified as Class Three if it fails to have at least one unit that is occupied by the owner of the real estate. An owner of residential real estate with four (4) units who is entitled to the Class Two residential real estate classification pursuant to this section shall annually file a declaration of such owner-occupied status with the tax assessor. The assessor shall prepare an appropriate form for the making of such declaration.
C. To be eligible for a homestead exemption, the property in question must be classified as a Class 2 property and satisfy the following on an annual basis:
1. Effective as to the assessment date of December 31 at midnight, an applicant must file with the city assessor no later than January 31 a homestead application, together with a declaration, and present evidence, under oath, as to the owner-occupied or non-owner-occupied status together with any other proof of residency or ownership and the ownership of all motor vehicles registered either with the State of Rhode Island or with any foreign state, and to provide that information in any manner which may be required by the city assessor For good cause, the city assessor may accept applications for owner-occupied status after the filing deadline for the current or previous year's taxes only.
2. Only natural person(s) are qualified to receive a type CO) owner-occupied residential real estate rate as set forth in section C(1) of this ordinance. Real property which is partially or wholly owned by a business, an institution, a nonprofit organization, a financial institution that has foreclosed on real estate, including, without limitation, HUD and Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation, or any other such public or private entity, do not qualify for a type C(I) owner-occupied real estate rate; provided, however, that with respect to the application of the owner-occupied real estate rate to taxes assessed as of December 31, 2014, the city assessor may, accept an application and grant a type C(l) owner-occupied real estate rate to an entity and its shareholder(s)/member(s)/owner(s), as the case may be, upon receiving a sworn declaration from said person(s) that he/she/they primarily resided in the subject real estate as of December 31, and that the ownership of the subject property is in said entity's name solely for estate planning purposes.
3. Applicants may qualify for only (I) type of owner-occupied real estate rate in the city at anyone (I) point in time. In addition, an owner of real estate in the City of Woonsocket must meet all of the following requirements in order to qualify for a type C(I) owner-occupied rate:
a. Neither the owner-occupied rate applicant nor the applicant's spouse is receiving an owner-occupied rate for another piece of real property, located elsewhere in the State of Rhode Island, or in any other state of the United States, for the same period of time the owner is seeking the owner-occupied rate for property owned in Woonsocket, unless during that time the owner is either legally separated or divorced from the spouse during some or all of the period in which they are claiming more than one (I) owner-occupied rate;
b. The owner-occupied rate applicant, and the owner-occupied rate applicant's spouse, is paying the Woonsocket excise tax due on each and every motor vehicle owned by either one when that vehicle is garaged more than thirty (30) days in the State of Rhode Island, unless (i) the vehicle is registered in the name of the applicant's spouse, and (ii) the owner-occupied-rate applicant and the spouse are either legally separated or divorced;
c. The owner-occupied rate applicant has filed with the Woonsocket Tax Assessor a current listing of all motor vehicles with foreign registrations that the applicant owns as required by R.I.G.L. § 31-7-1. If a homeowner currently receiving the owner-occupied rate has at least one (I) motor vehicle registered to the same address as the property receiving the rate, then the tax assessor shall presume that these requirements have been complied with; however, the tax assessor shall have the authority to investigate whether other circumstances (such as the ownership of additional motor vehicles registered elsewhere) indicate noncompliance that overcomes this presumption. If a homeowner currently receiving the owner-occupied rate does not have any motor vehicles registered to the same address, the tax assessor may take appropriate action to ascertain compliance with these requirements and to revoke the owner occupied rate, both prospectively and retroactively as necessary.
d. The owner-occupied homestead rate attaches to the owner(s) of the real property not to the real property itself. The homestead rate shall not be granted for vacant land or any portion of mixed use-property (ie residential/commercial) regardless of the number of units occupied for residential purposes.
e. The city assessor shall deny an application for the owner-occupied rate if the city assessor determines that an execution of record based upon a judgment of the Municipal Court for a minimum housing violation(s) against the applicant remains unsatisfied.
f. Upon purchase of a residence, a homeowner may apply for a type (C-l) owner-occupied real estate tax rate effective as of the date of purchase for the current tax year, notwithstanding the fact that applicant did not own the property as of December 31 of the prior year. The exemption will be granted pro rata for the number of days the applicant owns the property during the fiscal year in which the home is purchased. In the event the property granted an owner-occupied rate is sold or transferred during the year for which the owner-occupied rate is claimed, the applicable rate is void for that portion of the year following the sale or transfer should the new buyer not qualify for the owner-occupied rate. The buyer or transferee shall be liable to the city for any tax benefit received after the date of sale or transfer.
g. If the taxpayer knowingly gives misinformation as to ownership and/or occupancy of the real estate and/or ownership of motor vehicles on his/her application for an owner-occupied rate, the city assessor may, in such event, remove the owner-occupied rate and apply the non-owner occupied rate and recalculate the tax for the period in question and in addition charge the taxpayer the maximum interest permitted by law. If the taxpayer provides incorrect information, knowingly or not, the city assessor may remove the owner-occupied rate and apply the non-owner-occupied rate and may impose back taxes up to the full amount owed for the period in question.
h. The city assessor is empowered to promulgate any further rules and regulations which he/she deems necessary to carry out the intent and purpose of this section as it relates to the owner-occupied and non-owner occupied rates including but not limited to the creation of the necessary applications and forms to implement the intent of this Ordinance.
D. The Tax Assessor shall have the authority to send a communication in conjunction with a mortgage application from a buyer to a financial institution to reflect what an estimated property tax bill would be for a subject property if, and when a valid and accepted proposed homestead exemption is sought and accepted. Any communication from the Tax Assessor shall include the following language:
"The Tax Assessor has estimated the potential tax bill for this property based upon the application or the City's current homestead exemption. It is an ESTIMATE only and is contingent on the applicant/homeowner meeting all of the legal requirements or the exemption as set forth in the applicable law and/or the municipal code. Homestead exemptions and rates are subject to change and modification by the City's governing body."
E. Effective as of the assessment date of December 31, 2016 at midnight, the application requirements defined in Section C-l for taxpayers as of December 31, 2016 at midnight or thereafter who already enjoy an eligible homestead exemption that was validly issued pursuant to the terms of Ordinance 15 078 are as follows:
Effective as to the assessment date of December 31 at midnight, the city assessor will review the homestead exemption applications on file to confirm the current status and eligibility for the upcoming tax year, If a property transferred, or vehicles are no longer registered in the City of Woonsocket, the city assessor will require the present owner to file a new homestead application, together with a declaration, and present evidence, under oath, as to the owner-occupied or nonowner-occupied status together with any other proof of residency or ownership and the ownership of all motor vehicles registered either with the State of Rhode Island or with any foreign state, and to provide that information in any manner which may be required by the city assessor. Such application, declaration and supporting documentation will need to be filed no later than March 15th prior to the issuance of tax bills, or as determined by the city assessor. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Ordinance, any homeowner may apply for a type (a) owner occupied real estate tax rate effective as of the filing date of the Homestead application for the current tax year. The exemption will be granted pro rata based upon the number calendar days beginning with the application filing date through December 31.
(Ch. No. 4988, Sec. 1, 7-21-88; Ch. No. 6354, Sec. 1, 5-16-97; Ch. No. 6708, Sec. 2, 4-3-00; Ch. No. 7800 Sec. 1, 2-27-2015; Ch. No. 8092 Sec. 1, 2-4-2019)
Editor's note--Ch. No. 4988, adopted July 21, 1988, did not specifically amend this Code; hence, inclusion of Sec. 1 as Sec. 2-14 was at the discretion of the editor. The authority to grant a homestead exemption was granted at an election held July 12, 1988.
(a) Any sums of money representing miscellaneous charges or debts owed to the City of Woonsocket shall accrue interest at the rate of twelve percent (12%) per annum commencing on the thirty-first day after said charge or debt is owed. Authority to charge interest on past-due amounts owed to the City of Woonsocket is granted only on those amounts that are not already governed by existing legislation. The city treasurer will be responsible to administer this program.
(b) The twelve percent (12%) interest charge shall be applied prospectively only commencing upon the date this amendment shall take legal effect.
(c) Any prior interest charges which may have previously accrued at a rate higher than twelve percent (12%) before this code section took legal effect shall not be impaired, altered or changed. Any such higher interest rate shall remain intact and payable to the City.
(d) In addition, this legislative reduction to a twelve percent (12%) interest rate shall not amend, alter, modify, or change the terms and conditions (including any interest rate accruing in favor of the City) of any contract or judgment to which the City is a party and is in effect before the city code takes legal effect. The contract of judgement terms shall control.
(Ch. No. 5337, Sec. 1, 9-17-90; Ch. No. 8444, Sec. 1, 4-1-2024)
Editor's note--Ch. No. 5337, adopted Sept. 17, 1990, did not specifically amend this Code; hence, inclusion of Sec. 1 as Sec. 2-14.1 was at the discretion of the editor.
The city treasurer is hereby authorized, upon legislative approval of the city council, to enter into payment plans with taxpayers for payment of overdue taxes, water and sewer bills. Said approval may be given upon recommendation of the mayor and upon a finding that a payment plan is in the best interest of the city.
(Ch. No. 5978, Sec. 1, 10-17-94)
(a) For any short term loan authorized by the city council between city funds for a period of one (1) year or less, interest shall be at a rate of zero (0) percent.
(Ch. No. 5879, Secs. 1, 2, 4-18-94; Ch. No. 7570, Sec. 1, 10-4-2010)
Editor's note--Ch. No. 5879, Secs. 1, 2, adopted Apr. 18, 1994, did not specify manner of codification; hence, inclusion as Sec. 2-14.02 has been at the discretion of the editor.
(a) The City Council of the City of Woonsocket hereby orders the assessment and collection of taxes on the ratable real estate, excise (if applicable) and tangible personal property annually. Said tax is for the payment of the appropriation made by the City Council including the ordinary expenses of the City, the payment of interest and indebtedness, including sinking funds and for other purposes authorized by law.
(b) The City Assessor shall annually assess and apportion said tax on inhabitants and ratable property of said property of said city as of the 31st day of December, at twelve o’clock midnight, according to law.
(c) And, each year, the City Assessor shall date, certify, deliver to and deposit the same in the office of the City Clerk on or before the first (1st) day of July A.D., and the several taxes therein shall be due and payable to the City Treasurer on or before the fifteenth (15th) day of July, or may be paid in accordance with Sections 7 and 8, Chapter 5, Title 44 of the General Laws of Rhode Island, 1956, as amended. Unpaid taxes shall carry, until collected, a penalty at the rate of fifteen percent (15%) per annum from July 15 of that year and all years prior to July 1, 2024.
(d) Notwithstanding subsection (c), commencing on July 1, 2024, the penalty to be charged on any delinquent taxes existing as of June 30, 2024 or on any taxes assess in the future that go unpaid shall carry a penalty at the reduced rate of twelve percent (12%). Any prior interest charges which may have previously accrued at a rate higher than twelve percent (12%) before July 1, 2024 shall not be impaired, altered or changed. The higher interest rate shall remain valid and payable to the City. In addition, this legislative reduction to a twelve percent (12%) interest rate shall not amend, alter, modify, or change the terms and conditions (including any interest rate accruing in favor of the City) of any contract or judgment to which the City is a party and is in effect before July 1, 2024. The contract or judgment terms shall control.
(e) Said tax may be paid in quarterly installments, for the first installment of twenty-five percent (25%) on or before the fifteenth (15th) day of July, the second installment of twenty-five percent (25%) on or before the fifteenth (15th) day of October, the third quarter installment of twenty-five percent (25%) on or before the fifteenth (15th) day of January, and the fourth installment of twenty-five percent (25%) on or before the fifteenth (15th) day of April. Each quarterly installment must include a minimum payment of twenty-five percent (25%) for real estate, twenty-five percent (25%) for excise, if applicable, and twenty-five percent (25%) for tangible personal property.
(f) Each installment of taxes, if paid on or before the last day of each installment period successively and in order shall be free from any charges for interest.
(g) Once delinquent, any taxpayer who has failed to remit any quarterly payment by the required due date may, upon paying all taxes due plus interest owed, be reinstated to a current non-delinquent status and continue to have the option to make payments on a quarterly basis.
(Ch. No. 6850, Sec. 1, 6-4-01; Ch. No. 8443, Sec. 1, 4-2-2024)
(a) As authorized in R.I. Gen. Laws§ 44-5-88, the tax assessor is hereby authorized to waive interest and penalties on overdue tangible taxes during two (2) separate sixty (60) day periods in fiscal year 2024. Any request for a waiver of interest and penalties must be made in writing, signed and dated by the taxpayer and submitted to the tax assessor within the waiver periods outlined in subsection (e) below. The tax assessor shall provide the form requesting a waiver for interest and penalties on overdue tangible taxes.
(b) The decision of the tax assessor shall be rendered in writing and contain a notice to the City Council. The tax assessor may only approve an application for a waiver of interest and penalties in cases where the taxpayer/applicant has paid in full the principal amount of taxes owed prior to or at the time ofthe application.
(c) If the taxpayer receives an adverse decision from the tax assessor, the taxpayer/applicant shall immediately pay the interest and penalties owed which are the subject of the claim and may within ten (10) business days from the date of the decision, file a claim for reimbursement with the City Council. No such claim shall be granted unless the taxpayer has paid all interest and penalties on overdue tangible taxes.
(d) Any request for reimbursement for interest and penalties made to the city council pursuant to subsection (c) and that is in compliance with the criteria outlined in subsections (a), (b) and (c) above may be granted by the City Council.
(e) The first fiscal year 2024 sixty (60) day period shall run from October 16, 2023, through and including December 14, 2023; the second fiscal year 2024 sixty (60) day period shall run from March I, 2024, through and including April 29, 2024.
(f) No waivers of interest and penalties for any taxes owed in fiscal year 2024 shall be granted.
(Ch. No. 7794, Sec. 1, 2-4-2015; Ch. No. 8194, Sec. 1, 9-23-2020; Ch. No. 8212, Sec. 1, 1-25-2021; Ch. No. 8394, Sec. 1, 9-11-2023)
The City Treasurer shall charge a fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) for checks returned to the city due to a lack of sufficient funds.
(Ch. No. 5367, Sec. 1, 11-19-90)
Editor's note--Ch. No. 5367, adopted Nov. 19, 1990, did not specifically amend this Code; hence, inclusion of Sec. 1 as Sec. 2-14.3 was at the discretion of the editor.
(a) The city shall pay the cost of health and dental insurance, net of any employee premium share as described in Section 23 of the Personnel Ordinance, including family coverage where appropriate for its full-time, permanent employees, including the following:
(1) Mayor, Directors, Manager of Board of Canvassers, City Clerk and classified personnel.
(2) Municipal employees.
(3) Police department employees.
(4) Fire department employees.
This health insurance coverage shall be provided through such insurance carrier and for specific coverage as may be offered by the city or which may have been agreed upon through collective bargaining. Health and dental coverage for the Mayor, Directors, Manager of Board of Canvassers, and City Clerk shall be as provided for in the Professional and Technical Employees collective bargaining agreement, including provisions for co-payment. No health or dental benefits shall be provided either in full or in any prorated amounts or coverage for part-time (less than 30 hours per week) employees of the City.
(b) The city shall pay the cost of health insurance for municipal retirees and spouses, police department retirees, spouses and widows, and fire department retirees, spouses and widows as may be necessary and agreed upon through collective bargaining. The city shall pay the cost of health insurance for non-union non-classified retirees and spouses, provided that said non-union non-classified retirees shall have worked for the City for a minimum of ten (10) consecutive years upon the date of retirement. The Mayor shall receive health insurance coverage by the City only up to and including his final date of elective service, and in no case shall service in any other capacity while serving as Mayor constitute service toward eligibility for health insurance coverage beyond the term of elective office.
(Ch. No. 7350, Sec. 1, 10-1-07; Ch. No. 7364, Sec. 1, 10-30-07)
(c) Only those persons, specifically referred to in subsections (a) and (b) shall be eligible to participate in the city's health insurance plan unless otherwise authorized by the city council.
(d) Group term life insurance coverage of $100,000 shall be provided for the Mayor, Directors, Manager of Board of Canvassers, and City Clerk. City Council members shall be provided coverage with the benefit amount equal to their annual compensation.
(e) Vacation -
All full-time directors, Manager of Board of Canvassers, and City Clerk employed on January 1st of each year shall accrue annual vacation days in accordance with the following schedule:
| From date of hire to the following December 31st | 20 days |
| (prorated for full months remaining to the following December 31st | |
| Full year 1-5 | 20 days |
| Years 6-10 | 22 days |
| Years 11-20 | 24 days |
| Years 21 and beyond | 25 days |
Years of service for the purpose of calculating vacation eligibility within the schedule is based on total years of consecutive service while employed by the City in any full-time capacity. No bridging of time or application of any other employment shall count toward the service measure for vacation eligibility.
Unused vacation time may carry over to the following year, but in no case shall the carried over days exceed the previous year accrued number of days. Unused vacation days not eligible for carryover shall be forfeited.
(f) Personal days-
All full time directors, Manager of Board of Canvassers, and City Clerk shall accrue two (2) personal days on each January 1. Unused days shall not carry forward, nor shall they be substituted with additional compensation.
(g) Pension -
All directors, Manager of Board of Canvassers, and City Clerk shall be enrolled in the State Municipal Pension Plan as provided for in R. I. General Laws. Any alternative retirement benefit that may be allowed and desired by the Director shall be subject to approval by a resolution of the City Council.
(h) Sick Leave -
All Directors, Manager of Board of Canvassers, and City Clerk shall accrue sick leave at a rate of 1.25 days per month. All time accrued and discharged shall be recorded on periodic payroll registers as submitted to the Personnel Division. No Director, Manager of Board of Canvassers, and City Clerk shall accrue more than 1,275 hours of accrued sick time. Directors, Manager of Board of Canvassers, and City Clerk shall not be paid for any sick time accumulated over the maximum allowed. Upon retirement or death, seventy percent (70%) of unused sick days shall be paid to the retiree, or if appropriate, to the executor or administrator of his estate. No sick time shall be paid upon a voluntary or involuntary termination, other than retirement of death.
(i) Longevity -
Directors, Manager of Board of Canvassers, and City Clerk shall be entitled to longevity pay after he has served as a City employee for a period of five years from the date of appointment. Payment shall be made in one lump sum on December 1st of each year, or if that is not a pay date, the pay date immediately preceding December 1. A Director, Manager of Board of Canvassers, and City Clerk must be employed by the City on November 1 each year in order to be entitled to longevity pay. Payment shall be based on annual salary as approved by the City Council each year and be in accordance with the following schedule:
| Employees hired prior to July 1, 2010 | |
| Fifth year to ninth year | 4.5% of annual salary |
| Tenth to fourteenth year | 5.0% of annual salary |
| Fifteenth to nineteenth year | 5.5% of annual salary |
| Twentieth to twenty fourth year | 6.0% of annual salary |
| Twenty fifth year and beyond | 6.5% of annual salary |
| Employees hired after July 1, 2010 | |
| Fifth year to ninth year | 3.0% of annual salary |
| Tenth to fourteenth year | 3.5% of annual salary |
| Fifteenth to nineteenth year | 4.0% of annual salary |
| Twentieth to twenty fourth year | 4.5% of annual salary |
| Twenty fifth year and beyond | 5.0% of annual salary |
Years of service for the purpose of calculating longevity pay within the schedule is based on total years of consecutive service while employed by the City in any full-time capacity. No bridging of time or application of any other employment shall count toward the service measure for vacation eligibility.
(Ch. 7573, Sec.1-3, 11-8-2010)
(ii) For FY2011 and FY2012, all covered employees are to take three (3) unpaid furlough days.
(Ch. 7573, Sec.2, 11-8-2010)
(j) Holidays-
Paid holidays shall be as defined in the City Personnel Ordinance, Section 17.1.
(k) Bereavement and jury duty benefits for Directors, Manager of Board of Canvassers, and City Clerk shall be as provided for in the collective bargaining agreement with the Professional and Technical Employees Union, Local 3851.
(l) Except as specifically referenced herein, the benefits described constitute the entire group of benefits for the Mayor, Directors, Manager of Board of Canvassers, and City Clerk and City Council members. Benefits included in sections (d) through (k) above apply only to Directors, Manager of Board of Canvassers, and City Clerk and do not apply to the Mayor (including in any capacity serving as a director) or any member of the City Council. Directors, Manager of Board of Canvassers, and City Clerk shall enjoy no seniority benefit nor shall Directors, Manager of Board of Canvassers, and City Clerk accrue any seniority while serving in their capacity as Director. No bridging of time or application of any other employment shall count toward the service measure for longevity eligibility and valuation.
Non-Union Classified employees and the Administrative Aide (Mayor’s Secretary) shall receive the same benefits pertaining to health insurance, life insurance, vacation time, personal days, pension, sick leave, longevity pay, holidays, bereavement leave, jury duty, and clothing allowance as members of the Local 3851 Union.
(Ch. 7529, Sec.1, 4-21-2010)
Retroactive to July 1, 2010, all employees are to make health care copayment of 15% of the annual working rate for single or family health insurance if their salary is $50,000 or less, or 20% if their annual salary is greater than $50,000.
(Ch. 7573, Sec.1, 11-8-2010)
For FY2011 and FY2012, all covered employees are to take three (3) unpaid furlough days.
(Ch. 7573, Sec.2, 11-8-2010)
Section 1. Statement of Purpose
The purpose of this ordinance is to establish an application or petition process for the submission of requests from private individuals, corporations, partnerships or other property owners for zoning changes under the Woonsocket Zoning Ordinance and the Rhode Island Zoning Enabling Act. The establishment of such procedure will ensure compliance by petitioners and the city council with the provisions of the Rhode Island Zoning Enabling Act under Rhode Island General Laws 45-24.
Section 2. Requirements
In requesting a change of zoning designation for a property or group of properties, the petitioner shall submit to the city clerk the following:
1. A petition addressed to the City Council requesting the zone change designation including the present and proposed zoning designations, and an explanation of the use proposed within the area under consideration. Such petition must be signed by all owners of property within the area proposed symbolizing their assent to the petition.
2. A description of the property by Woonsocket Assessor's plat and lot. A legal description thereof may be substituted.
3. A map showing the existing and· proposed boundaries the zoning district boundaries and existing streets and roads, their names and city and town boundaries where appropriate.
4. Names and addresses of property owner within 200' radius of the entire property proposed for rezone.
5. A proposed Ordinance. The clerk may provide the petitioner a model ordinance.
6. A check for $900.00. $100.00 shall be the application fee. The remaining $809 shall cover the cost of advertising and certified mailing to abutting property owners. A full notice of such pet! tion must be mailed to the Associate Director of the Rhode Island Department of Administration for Statewide Planning. Should the cost of advertising and mailing exceed the amount provided, the petitioner shall pay the excess amount before the scheduled hearing. Should the amount provided exceed the cost therefor, the clerk shall return the balance to the petitioner.
7. When the petition is a repetitive petition, an affidavit stating that the petition differs from any previously rejected petition for the same property if within one (1) year and how so.
Section 3. Council Action
Upon receipt of a petition for a rezone or zone change, the city council shall take the following action: Receive the petition and place it on file with the office of the city clerk; order the petition advertised in a newspaper of general circulation serving the City of Woonsocket three (3) consecutive weeks on the same day of the week. The first advertisement shall be in its entirety; the second and third publications shall briefly state the purpose of the zone change by title, state the time and place of the public hearing on same and advise readers of the date of the publication in its entirety. Publication shall be in print equivalent to the normal print of the newspaper and shall contain a map of the proposed rezone area.
In addition, the city council shall direct the city clerk to transmit a copy of the proposed petition to the planning board for advice and recommendation. Such transmittal shall be in writing to the chairman of the planning board and the city planner.
No amendment shall become effective unless it is first submitted to and acted upon by the planning board. Any failure of the board to act within thirty (30) days shall constitute recommended approval.
(Ch. 5685, Secs.1-3, 9-28-1992)
A. Establishment. In accordance with the express enabling authority granted by the General Assembly in RIGL Sec. 44-5.1, et seq., there is hereby established in the City of Woonsocket a real estate nonutilization tax.
B. Definitions.
1) Abutter: A neighbor whose property touches the property in question.
2) Actively Marketed: Good faith efforts by the owner of the property to obtain one or more occupants of the property. These good-faith efforts may include, without limitation, one or more of the following: making substantial financial expenditures in comparison with the value of the property; or listing the property for sale or lease, or both, with one or more real estate brokers, for a price and on terms, or for a rental that is realistic considering the fair market value or fair rental value of the property; or advertising, using one or more signs on the property and at least one other medium, the availability of the property for sale or rental for a price and on terms, or at a rental that is realistic considering the fair market value or fair rental value of the property. Sporadic attempts to sell or lease the property during the privilege year may be viewed as not constituting a good-faith marketing effort.
3) Continuously Unoccupied: Any property that is listed during the entire privilege year as vacant in the records of the Department of Planning and Development.
4) Development Plan: A plan to rehabilitate a vacant and abandoned property with a set time frame for a use in conformance with the City of Woonsocket's Comprehensive Plan.
5) Nonprofit Housing Organization: Any organization exempt from taxation pursuant to Sec. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code [26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3)] whose exempt purposes include the provision of affordable housing to low - and moderate - income households.
6) Privilege Year: The twelve-month period corresponding to the calendar year.
7) Reviewing Entity: The municipal entity designated by the City pursuant to Sec. 44-5.1-3, which shall be the Deputy Director of Zoning, Building Inspection and Construction.
8) Vacant and Abandoned Property: any property which:
a) Is a building that has remained continuously unoccupied during the privilege year or a lot with no existing structure that is littered with trash and obviously abandoned.
b) In the case of property containing one or more buildings used in whole or in part for one or more dwelling units immediately prior to the time the property became vacant, has been under continuous designation as vacant by the Deputy Director of Zoning, Building Inspection and Construction, or his designee, during the privilege year; or
c) In the case or property containing one or more buildings, none of which were used in whole or in part for one or more dwelling units immediately prior to the time the property became vacant, has been under continuous citation by the Deputy Director of Zoning, Building Inspection and Construction, or his designee, for violation of Minimum Housing Code provisions relating to the health or safety of citizens during the privilege year.
C. Imposition.
1) The City of Woonsocket may annually impose upon any property which is vacant and abandoned, as determined by the Deputy Director of Zoning, Building Inspection and Construction, or his designee, a nonutilization tax measured by the assessed value of the real estate at the rate of ten dollars ($10) for each one hundred dollars ($100) of assessed value of the real estate, as most recently returned by the Tax Assessor of the City of Woonsocket.
2) The tax imposed under authority of this chapter shall be due and payable in the same manner as other municipal real estate taxes are due in the City.
D. Exemptions.
1) The nonutilization tax authorized by this article shall not be imposed on property owned by an abutter or a nonprofit housing organization if:
a) The abutter or nonprofit housing organization submits a proposed development plan, which has been approved by the Rhode Island Housing Resources Commission or Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation, to the reviewing entity; and
b) The proposed development plan contains a reasonable timetable for the development or reuse of the property; and
c) The reviewing entity determines that the proposed development plan is in accordance with the approved Comprehensive Plan of the City of Woonsocket and approves it.
2) The reviewing entity shall deliver a copy of the approved development plan to the Tax Assessor, who shall certify the property as exempt from the nonutilization tax.
3) Failure of the nonprofit housing organization or abutter, without good cause, to carry out the development or reuse of the property in accordance with the timetable set forth in approved development plan shall result in the property being subject to the nonutilization tax as of the first date of assessment following the expiration of the timetable in the approved development plan.
4) The non-utilization tax authorized by this article shall not be imposed on property in which Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation holds an interest pursuant to 44-9-8.3(a) and the property is three (3) residential units or less.
E. Property ceasing to be subject to tax.
1) Upon a finding by the Deputy Director of Zoning, Building Inspection and Construction, or his designee, that the property is no longer vacant or abandoned, said property will cease to be subject to the nonutilization tax until such time as it again is determined to be vacant and abandoned. This section is not intended to modify any taxes that have already accrued.
2) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any property that is vacant and abandoned and which is sold shall not be subject to this nonutilization tax for the first sixty (60) days subsequent to the transfer of ownership. Failure by the new owner to have the property removed from its vacant and abandoned status within that sixty-day period will again subject property to this tax.
3) The Tax Assessor is empowered to abate the tax if it is imposed in error or if a nonprofit housing organization or an abutter acquires the property for rehabilitation and submits a development plan that complies with the provisions of Section D.
F. Appeals.
1) In any appeal from the imposition of the tax set forth in this section, the Tax Assessment Board of Review shall find in favor of an appellant who shows that the property assessed:
a) Was actively marketed during the privilege year; or
b) Was occupied for substantial portions of the privilege year, notwithstanding its designation by Deputy Directory of Zoning, Building Inspection and Construction, or his designee.
c) Was exempt pursuant to Section D from the imposition of the tax as set forth in that section.
2) Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed to enlarge or diminish any other right of appeal that an appellant may possess pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws or any City ordinances.
(Ch. No. 7073, Sec. 1, 9-15-03; Ch. No. 8472, Sec. 1, 6-3-2024)
(Charter references--City council generally, Ch. II; authority of council to enact ordinances, Ch. III, Sec. 1; mayor generally, Ch. IV; duties of mayor, Ch. IV, Sec. 3; finance department generally, Ch. V, Art. 1; city treasurer generally, Ch. V, Art. 2; city treasurer to be tax collector, Ch. V, Art. 2, Sec. 4; city assessor generally, Ch. VI, Art. 1; board of assessment review, Ch. VI, Art. 3; purchasing agent, Ch. VIII, Secs. 1, 2; law department, Ch. X, Art. 1; department of public works, Ch. X, Art. 2; division engineer, Ch. X, Art. 3; department of public safety, Ch. X, Art. 4; police and fire department as divisions under department of public safety, Ch. X, Art. 4, Sec. 2; department of planning and development, Ch. X, Art 5; planning board, Ch. X, Art. 6; department of human resources, Ch. X, Art. 7; city clerk generally, Ch. XI, Art. 1.)
(a) Effective as of January 1, 2025, the following officers of this city shall receive in full compensation for their services, the respective yearly salaries, unless otherwise specifically provided, which shall be paid by the city treasurer under the supervision, control and direction of the finance director of this city:
| Mayor | 120,000.00 |
| Members of the city council | 12,000.00 |
| President of the city council | 12,250.00 |
(Ch. No. 8418, Sec. 1, 1-8-2024)
(b) Any portion of a salary may be returned to the general fund if the Mayor or a councilman feels the total compensation is more than his contribution of time and effort is worth [for] the execution of his duties.
(c) The salaries aforesaid shall be considered full compensation for all services rendered to the city by the respective officers aforesaid in their official capacity, and all money, including fees, officially received by them and each of them for or on account of the city shall be paid into the city treasury as soon as the same is so received. Any properly approved changes to the amount of the salaries aforesaid shall be effective prospectively with periodic payments to be adjusted to reflect the annual amount without any retroactive application. Periodic salary payments shall be calculated as the full amount of the annual salary divided by the number of pay dates.
(Ch. No. 8300, Sec. 1, 5-16-2022)
(d) The officers aforesaid shall not accrue or be eligible to receive or be paid for vacation time, sick time, logevity pay, or any other form of compensation beyond the amount approved in Sec. 2-15 (a) or as may be amended from time to time as part of the annual budget.
(e) The officers aforesaid shall not be eligible to receive severance pay in any form or amount upon the completion of their term or resignation from office. Upon resignation, the official shall be paid based on the total salary for the entire elective term prorated for days served out of the total days of the elected term, less any amounts previously paid during the term of office.
(f) The officers aforesaid shall be enrolled in the State Municipal Employees Retirement Plan in accordance with R.I. General Laws, Title 36 and in section 2-14.4.
(State law reference--R.I. Public Law, Ch. 55, 1977; R.I. Public Law, Ch. 215, 1977.)
(a) Effective as of December 7, 1999, each member of the school committee of this city shall receive an annual salary in the sum of six thousand dollars ($6,000.00) and the chairman of the said school committee shall receive an annual salary in the sum of six thousand two hundred fifty dollars ($6,250.00).
(b) The salaries shall be payable in equal monthly installments.
(c) This section is enacted by virtue of the authority contained in Chapter 271 of the Public Laws of Rhode Island 1972, said chapter being entitled, "Authorizing and empowering the City Council of the City of Woonsocket to pay annual salaries to the Chairman and several members of the school committee of said City". (Ch. No. 2531, Secs. 1--3, 5-4-70; Ch. No. 2841, Sec. 3, 12-4-72; Ch. 6647, Sec. 1, 8-2-99)
(a) The city treasurer and other persons hereinafter mentioned shall each give bonds with a qualified surety company as surety for the faithful discharge of their respective duties, or for the purpose provided by law and in the sums as follows:
(1) City treasurer, in the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00).
(2) Auctioneers, each, in the sum of three thousand dollars ($3,000.00).
(b) The form and condition of the bond given by each shall correspond with and be applicable to the duties to be performed by such officer and the bond of each of the other persons aforesaid shall be in the form and upon the conditions required by law, and the surety on each bond itself shall be approved by the city council. The bond of each officer here-after elected shall be approved and delivered before the officer enters upon the duties of his office, except in cases otherwise provided by law.
In case of death or insolvency of the surety on the bond of any of the persons mentioned in subsection (a) and in all cases where an officer shall hold over for an additional term, the officer who has given such bond shall forthwith give a new bond with sufficient sureties, in the manner and form to be approved as hereinbefore provided; and if any officer shall neglect or fail to furnish each new bond, as herein required, it shall be a sufficient cause for his removal from office.
(c) The bond of the city clerk shall be made to the city and shall be deposited with and safely kept by the city treasurer, and the bond of each of the other persons mentioned in subsection (a) shall be made to the city clerk and shall be deposited with and safely kept by the city clerk.
(d) All other officers and employees of the city shall be under a public employees faithful performance blanket bond in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) issued by a recognized surety company. The bond shall be made to the city and shall be deposited with the city clerk and shall be approved as to form and surety by the city solicitor. (Ch. No. 918, Secs. 1--4, 2-12-51)
Charter reference--Bonds of officers and employees, Ch. XVI, Art. 4.
There are hereby established two (2) positions of assistant city solicitor in the law department of the city. (Ch. No. 1244, Sec. 1, 4-7-58; Ch. No. 1510, Sec. 1, 7-5-60)
Charter reference--City solicitor, Ch. X, Art. 1.
The assistant city solicitors shall be attorneys-at-law in good standing who have been admitted to the practice of law in the state. They shall be appointed by the city solicitor and shall serve at the pleasure of the city solicitor. They shall perform all such duties and services as shall be prescribed by the city solicitor. (Ch. No. 976, Sec. 1, 5-20-53; Ch. No. 1244, Sec. 2, 4-7-58; Ch. No. 1510, Secs. 2, 3, 7-5-60)
The sealer of weights and measures of the city shall be appointed by the city council and shall serve at the pleasure of the director of public safety. (Ch. No. 978, Sec. 1, 6-10-53)
State law reference--Weights and measures, G.L. 1956, Sec. 47-1-1 et seq.
(a) The sealer of weights and measures shall perform all such duties and exercise all such powers as are now or hereafter may be vested in such office under the laws of the state or the ordinances of this city. He shall also be inspector of kerosene, city gauger, city weigher and surveyor of lumber.
(b) He shall collect such fees as are prescribed and specified by the laws of the state; and he shall keep an accurate record of all such fees collected and received by him, including the names of the persons paying such fees and the amount of such respective fees. On the first business day of each and every month following his appointment and qualification, he shall pay to the city treasurer all fees collected by him, and he shall furnish the city treasurer with an exact copy of his records with regard to the names of the persons paying such fees and the amount of such respective fees. (Ch. No. 978, Sec. 1, 6-10-53)
A board of investment shall be formed consisting of five (5) members, who shall advise and direct the city treasurer in the investments of the city's funds. The board of investment shall include three (3) members who are qualified electors of the city. (Ch. No. 979, Sec. 1, 6-10-53; Ch. No. 7040, Sec. 1, 4-21-03)
Charter reference--Council to provide for investment board, Ch. V, Art. 2, Sec. 3(c).
The members of the board of investment shall be appointed by the mayor and shall serve at his pleasure. (Ch. No. 979, Sec. 1, 6-10-53)
Members of the board of investment shall serve without compensation. (Ch. No. 979, Sec. 1, 6-10-53)
The duty of the board of investment shall be to advise and direct the city treasurer in the investment of city funds. (Ch. No. 979, Sec. 1, 6-10-53)
(a) A board of library trustees of all free public libraries in the city shall be elected by the city council by resolution, to consist of not less than five (5) members. The board, after its election by the council, shall meet and shall by lot be divided into three (3) groups or classes. The term of office of the first group shall expire one (1) year from the date of their election, those of the second group two (2) years from the date of their election, and those of the third group in three (3) years. Vacancies occurring by resignation, removal, death or otherwise, shall be filled as above for the unexpired term thereof. The members shall serve without compensation.
(b) The board shall perform all such duties and exercise all such powers as are now or hereinafter may be vested in the board under the laws of the state or ordinances of this city. (Ch. No. 985, Secs. 1, 2, 7-15-53; Ch. No. 1340, Secs. 1, 2, 6-1-59)
Charter reference--Library trustees, Ch. XI, Art. 3.
State law reference--Free public libraries, G.L. 1956, Sec. 29-4-1 et seq.
The city council of the City of Woonsocket hereby creates a medical review board. (Ch. No. 3040, Sec. 1, 10-7-74)
Editor's note--Ch. No. 3040 did not expressly amend this Code, hence codification of Secs. 1--3 as Secs. 2-27--2-29 was at the discretion of the editors.
The medical review board shall consist of three (3) physicians licensed to practice in the State of Rhode Island, to be appointed by the mayor from a list of physicians submitted by the Woonsocket District Medical Society; said list shall contain at least twice the number of physicians to be appointed. The initial board shall be for terms of one, two (2) and three (3) years; thereafter, appointments shall be for three (3) years. The mayor shall have the right to name a physician as an auxiliary or fourth member of the medical review board, who shall sit as an active member when and if a member of said board is unable to serve, upon request of the chairman of said board. Upon appointment the board shall organize and select a chairman for one year or until a successor shall have been elected. The board shall thereafter select a chairman annually.
(Ch. No. 3040, Sec. 2, 10-7-74; Ch. No. 3052, Sec. 1, 12-16-74)
Note-See the editor's note to Sec. 2-27.
The medical review board shall:
(1) Be advisory to the directors of the various departments and divisions in the City of Woonsocket;
(2) Establish pre-employment physical criteria for applicants for city employment;
(3) Formulate policy and procedures relative to sick leave;
(4) Evaluate the eligibility of employees for temporary or permanent disability; and
(5) Evaluate and review from time to time the physical qualifications of employees on, or to be placed on, the pension list.
(Ch. No. 3040, Sec. 1, 10-7-74)
Note--See the editor's note to Sec. 2-27.
(a) Administrative assistant.
(1) There is hereby created within the office of the mayor the position of administrative assistant.
(2) This position shall be filled by the mayor notifying the city council in writing, of said appointment together with the qualifications of the appointee and the effective date of said appointment.
(3) Said administrative assistant to the mayor shall be for an indefinite term and shall be at the pleasure of the mayor; however, the term of the administrative assistant shall automatically expire at the expiration of the term of office of the mayor. There shall be no compensation nor benefits attached to this position.
(b) Administrative aide.
(1) There is hereby created, within the office of the mayor, the position of administrative aide.
(2) This position shall be filled by the mayor notifying the city council, in writing, of said appointment, together with the qualification of the appointee and the effective date of said appointment.
(3) Said administrative aide to the mayor shall be for an indefinite term and shall be at the pleasure of the mayor; provided, however, that the term of the administrative aide shall automatically expire at the expiration of the term of office of the mayor.
(4) The salary for said position shall be twenty thousand eight hundred dollars ($20,800) with full benefits in accordance with the city's personnel code.
(Ch. No. 5041, Secs. 1--3, 11-7-88; Ch. No. 5521, Secs. 1--4, 12-16-91)
Editor's note--Ch. No. 5041, adopted Nov. 7, 1988, did not specifically amend this Code; hence, inclusion of Secs. 1--3 as Secs. 2-30 was at the discretion of the editor. Subsequently, the editor designated those provisions as subsection (a) and added Secs. 1--4 of Ch. No. 5521, adopted Dec. 16, 1991, as subsection (b).
Editor's note--Ch. No. 5878, Sec. 1(a), adopted Apr. 18, 1994, deleted Sec. 2-31, health insurance for county employees, as derived from Ch. No. 5042, Secs. 1--8, adopted Nov. 7, 1988.
1. The sale or lease of any city-owned real property, except that which has been reverted or acquired by the City for non-payment of taxes. shall be accomplished by the following procedure:
(a) Prior to the sale or lease of any City real property, the City shall have the property appraised by a Rhode Island licensed real estate appraiser to determine its fair market value. The requirement of an appraisal can be waived by the City Council by Resolution in which case the City Assessor shall appraise the property proposed to be sold or leased to determine its fair market value. The written opinion of the City Assessor's market value or that of a qualified appraiser shall be forwarded to the Mayor and the City Council prior to the property being listed for sale or lease.
(b) The Mayor. after consultation and approval via Resolution of the City Council. is authorized to advertise the property for at least the fair market value of the property determined in accordance with Section (a) above. in at least two publications of record at least twice in a fourteen (14) day period and a real estate website for a period of at least thirty (30) calendar days or for a shorter period if requested. and authorized and evidenced by a Resolution of the City Council. Nothing in this section shall prevent the Mayor from entering into a real estate sale agreement with any Rhode Island licensed real estate broker for the sale of property with City Council approval. If the property is listed by a Rhode Island licensed real estate broker. the advertising provisions of this section shall not apply.
(c) Notwithstanding the provision of Section (b) above, the sale or lease of City real property may be made by competitive sealed bid, upon such terms and conditions as the Mayor may require subject to the prior approval by the City Council via Resolution. and in accordance with any applicable state or local law. including section 2-31 of the Woonsocket City Code, or Charter Provision, after advertising the sale of any real property in a newspaper of general circulation at least twice in a fourteen (14) day period. The sale or lease of the subject sale shall also be listed on the City's official website and on a web-based service for not less than thirty (30) calendar days. The bid offer must contain an explicit provision that any or all bids may be rejected by the Mayor and/or the City Council at their sole discretion. No such bid shall be accepted without the approval of the majority of the City Council as evidenced by a Resolution of that body. Any request to buy or lease city-owned property after one hundred and eighty (180) days of the bid's expiration date must go back out to bid for sale or lease.
(d) Upon acceptance of an offer or a bid for the purchase of City-owned real estate or the acceptance of a valid bid to purchase, the City Solicitor is authorized to take all necessary actions to complete the sale subject to the final transfer of the deed by the City Council as set forth in Chapter Ill, Section 3(e) of the Woonsocket Home Rule Charter.
(Ch. No. 5878, Sec. 1(a), adopted Apr. 18, 1994, deleted Sec. 2-31, health insurance for county employees, as derived from Ch. No. 5042, Secs. 1--8, adopted Nov. 7, 1988.; Ch. No. 7953, Sec. 1, 8-1-2016)
(a) Any nominations for appointments or reappointments to boards for which the city council is the appointing authority as designated by the Woonsocket Home Rule Charter shall be filed with the City Clerk within the ninety (90) day period immediately preceding the expiration of the term of the applicable position and at no time prior to that period.
(b) Where the City Council is the appointing authority, the City Clerk shall notify the members of the city council, in writing or via e-mail, at least one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the expiration of said term of appointment for any and all such positions.
(c) In the event of a vacancy due to a resignation or removal from a board in which the City Council is the appointing authority, said vacancy shall be filled after the city clerk has notified the city council of said vacancy and a fourteen (14) day period is allowed for the filing of nominations and subsequent filling for said position.
(d) Within ten (10) days after providing notice to the City Council under section (b) above, the City Clerk shall advertise in a newspaper of general circulation, as well as post on the City’s official website, the position on the board or commission which is expiring. The advertisement shall advise that the City Council is accepting names of individuals for nomination to a stated board and/or commission and that any interested city resident should submit a resume and/or letter of interest to the City Clerk’s office by a date as set forth in the advertisement. All submitted applications shall be forwarded, by request, to each member of the City Council.
(e) The City Clerk is authorized to create any and all forms, applications, or web-based applications necessary to carry out the purpose and or intent of this Ordinance.
(f) Any nominees for appointments or reappointments to boards for which the city council is the appointing authority as designated by the Woonsocket Home Rule Charter shall be residents and qualified electors of the City of Woonsocket and remain for the length of their term.
(Ch. No. 5098, Secs 1--3, 3-6-89; Ch. No. 6953, Sec. 1, 5-20-02; Ch. No. 7880. Sec 1, 4-22-16 )
Editor's note--Bill No. 5098, adopted Mar. 6, 1989, did not specifically amend this Code; hence, inclusion of Secs. 1--3 as Secs. 2-32 was at the discretion of the editor.
(a) As permitted under section 44-3-9.1 of the General Laws of Rhode Island as amended by Public Laws 91-109, the City Council of the City of Woonsocket hereby endorses, approves, and establishes a tax stabilization plan for businesses undertaking new construction or substantial renovation in the City of Woonsocket as detailed in the attached regulations on the job creation incentive program and is made a part hereof by reference.
(b) The city council hereby designates all properties within the City of Woonsocket zoned C-3, C-4, I-1 or I-2 as the designated districts for the job creation incentive program as required under Public Law 91-109.
(c) The finance department and the department of planning and development are hereby directed and empowered to administer the job creation incentive program in a manner that is consistent with the plan. (Ch. No. 5525, Secs. 1--3, 1-6-92)
Editor's note--Ch. No. 5525, adopted Jan. 6, 1992, did not specifically amend this Code; hence, inclusion of Secs. 1--3 as Sec. 2-33 was at the discretion of the editor. The complete text of the program is not included in this Code. The text has been amended by the following:
Ch. No. Date Section
5656 10-5-92 2
(a) The City of Woonsocket shall not pay severance pay to directors or appointed personnel who are replaced.
(b) The City of Woonsocket shall not pay severance pay to directors or appointed personnel who resign. (Ch. No. 5530, Secs. 1, 2, 1-21-92)
Editor's note--Ch. No. 5530, adopted Jan. 21, 1992, did not specifically amend this Code; hence, inclusion of Secs. 1, 2 as Sec. 2-34 was at the discretion of the editor.
(Cross reference--Fire prevention and protection, Ch. 8.)
This article is intended to establish policies and rules which will govern the purchase and issue of clothing and equipment required of employees of the police and fire divisions. (Ch. No. 1967, Sec. 1, 4-8-65)
The articles of clothing and equipment covered by this article shall include all items that are especially designed and used solely for the execution of the duties of the divisions involved, as set forth in section 2-44. (Ch. No. 1967, Sec. 2, 4-8-65)
The following terms and words, wherever used in this article, shall be defined as indicated below, unless required otherwise by the context of this article.
(1) The city. City of Woonsocket.
(2) Employees. Members of the police and fire divisions who are covered by the Police and Fire Pension Act.
(3) Fair wear and tear. Normal wear and deterioration of an item of clothing in the performance of duties.
(4) Dress uniform. Blues.
(5) House uniform. Khaki.
(6) Normal duty hours. A regular shift. (Ch. No. 1967, Sec. 3, 4-8-65)
A new employee will be required to provide his own clothing and equipment as determined by the police and fire chiefs. Upon satisfactory completion of the probationary period, the employee will be reimbursed by the city for such clothing and equipment. Reimbursement will be made in cases where an employee is precluded from obtaining permanent status through an act of God or by reason of disability incurred in the performance of duty or disabling disease. (Ch. No. 1967, Sec. 4, 4-8-65)
Maintenance of clothing and equipment shall be the responsibility of the individual employee and shall include but not be limited to periodic cleaning, washing, polishing or repair as appropriate to the particular item to assure that each man presents a neat, smart appearance satisfactory to the chief of the division. Alterations due to changes in weight and size shall be at the expense of the employee. (Ch. No. 1967, Sec. 5, 4-8-65)
The chief of the division or his representative shall approve all requisitions for new or replacement clothing or equipment after determining that the item in question must be replaced due to "fair wear and tear." Any item of clothing or equipment that does not meet this criteria must be replaced by the employee concerned at his own expense. All issues shall be accomplished on a one for one basis. Clothing and equipment purchased by the city shall be and remain the property of the city. Individual clothing and equipment records shall be kept by each division.
Except in the case of new appointees and employees of the police division who receive a monetary allowance in lieu of an allowance in kind, the purchasing agent shall purchase clothing and equipment required under this article for members of the police division in accordance with the provisions of Chapter VIII of the Home Rule Charter. (Ch. No. 1967, Sec. 6, 4-8-65; Ch. No. 2522, Sec. 1, 4-20-70; Ch. No. 2563, Secs. 1, 2, 8-3-70)
The following is a list of clothing and equipment currently required by the personnel of the police and fire divisions and provided by the city except as set forth in section 2-39.
(1) Police clothing and equipment:
1--Uniform blouse
2--Trousers (winter)
2--Trousers (summer)
1--Cap (winter)
1--Cap (summer)
1--Overcoat
6--Shirts (long sleeves)
6--Shirts (short sleeves)
2--Ties
1--Sweater or thermal underjacket
1--Pair gloves
1--Garrison belt
1--Sam Browne belt
1--Pistol
1--Holster
1--Key ring and hook
1--Protective helmet
1--Cartridge case
1--Handcuff case
1--Handcuffs
1--Night stick
1--Blackjack
1--Whistle
1--Whistle chain and hook
1--Flashlight
1--Reflective traffic belt
1--Rubber coat and cape
1--Cap cover
1--Pull on boots
--Insignia
1--Pair of shoes
(2) Fire clothing and equipment:
1--Reefer
1--Dress uniform
2--Dress shirts (white, long sleeves)
2--Dress shirts (white, short sleeves)
2--Pairs work pants (khaki)
2--Work shirts (khaki, long sleeves)
2--Work shirts (khaki, short sleeves)
1--Work jacket
2--Tie (black)
1--Belt (black)
1--Rubber coat
1--Night hitch
1--Helmet
2--Pair rubber boots
--Insignia
1--Pair suspenders for night hitch
1--Pair mittens
1--Sweater for men required to be in dress uniform at
all times
(3) Special additional clothing and equipment: Fire alarm linesmen
1--Outer work coat
2--Work pants
1--Foul weather gear (pants, hat, jacket)
1--Pair gloves
2--Sets of thermal underwear
Chief, deputy chiefs, fire prevention officer, training officer and chauffeur:
2--Pair dress blue pants
3--Dress shirts (long sleeves)
3--Dress shirts (short sleeves).
(Ch. No. 1967, Sec. 8, 4-8-65; Ch. No. 2017, Secs. 1, 2, 10-4-65; Ch. No. 2022, Sec. 1, 10-18-65; Ch. No. 2139, Sec. 1, 3-20-67)
Nonuniformed employees of the police division shall receive a monetary allowance in lieu of an allowance in kind, in an amount prescribed by collective bargaining agreement with the approval of the city council. Reimbursement is to be made in semiannual increments in the months of December and June to employees who have been assigned to plainclothes duty during the previous six (6) months ending with the payment month. Such reimbursements shall be computed in accordance with such collective bargaining agreement with the approval of the city council. (Ch. No. 1967, Sec. 9, 4-8-65)
Maintenance helpers of the police division shall receive an allowance for work clothing in an amount not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) each, in any fiscal year, for necessary clothing allowance. Reimbursement is to be paid in semiannual increments in the months of December and June to maintenance helpers for the previous six (6) months ending with the payment month. (Ch. No. 2091, Sec. 1, 8-16-66)
(Editor's note--Section 1 of Ch. No. 5073, adopted Jan. 17, 1989, amended this article in its entirety. In some cases, existing provisions were retained but were given different section numbers. In those cases a complete history note has been included, and a note has been appended giving the former section number. Completely new material will carry reference only to Ch. No. 5073. State law reference--Historic Area Zoning, Title 45, Chapter 24.1, General Laws of Rhode Island, 1956, 1988 Reenactment. Cross references--Building inspector, App. C, Sec. 10.1; zoning board of review, App. C, Sec. 11.)
The preservation of the sites and structures of historic or architectural value is hereby declared to be a public purpose. It is the declared purpose of this article to:
(a) Safeguard the heritage of this city by preserving districts and sites in the city which reflect elements of its cultural, social, economic, political and architectural history.
(b) Stabilize and improve property values in such districts.
(c) Foster civic beauty.
(d) Strengthen the local economy.
(e) Promote the use of historic districts and sites for the education, pleasure and welfare of the citizens of the city.
(f) Regulate the construction, alteration, repair, moving and demolition of such structures within the limits of the City of Woonsocket. (Ch. No. 3175, Sec. 1, 11-3-75; Ch. No. 5073, Sec. 1, 1-17-89)
The following terms shall have the following respective meanings:
(a) Alteration: An act that changes one (1) or more of the exterior architectural features of a structure or its appurtenances, including but not limited to the erection, construction, reconstruction, or removal of any structure or appurtenances.
(b) Appurtenances: Features other than primary or secondary structures which contribute to the exterior historical appearance of a property, including but not limited to paving, doors, windows, signs materials, decoration, accessories, fences, and historic landscaping features.
(c) Certificate of Appropriateness: A certificate issued by an historic districts commission established under this article indicating approval of plans for alterations, construction, repair, removal, or demolition of a structure or appurtenances of a structure within an historic district. "Appropriate" for the purpose of passing upon an application for a certificate of appropriateness means not incongruous with those aspects of the structure, historically or architecturally significant.
(d) Construction: The act of adding to an existing structure or erecting a new principal structure or appurtenances to a structure, including but not limited to buildings, extensions, outbuildings, fire escapes and retaining walls.
(e) Demolition: An act or process that destroys a structure or its appurtenances in part or in whole.
(f) Historic District: A specific division of a city or town as designated by the city or town council pursuant to this article. An historic district may include one (1) or more structures.
(g) Removal: A relocation of a structure from its site to another site.
(h) Repair: A change meant to remedy damage or deterioration of a structure or its appurtenances.
(i) Structure: Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires permanent or temporary location on or in the ground, including but not limited to buildings, gazebos, billboards, outbuildings, decorative and retaining walls, and swimming pools. (Ch. No. 5073, Sec. 1, 1-17-89)
(a) Establishment: There is hereby established an "Historic District Commission of the City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island" to carry out the purpose of this article.
(b) Membership and Appointment: Said commission shall consist of seven (7) members, residents of the City of Woonsocket, to be appointed by the mayor. Members shall be appointed for a period of three (3) years except that the initial appointment of three (3) members shall be for one (1) year; two (2) members for two (2) years; and two (2) members for three (3) years. Members shall be eligible for reappointment. In making appointments to the commission, the mayor may appoint the design planner of the city department of planning and development and may consult with any duly organized and existing preservation and historical societies which may submit a list of qualified citizens for the mayor's consideration. In the event of a vacancy on the commission, an interim appointment may be made by the mayor to complete the unexpired vacant term. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation.
The mayor shall appoint an auxiliary member of said commission in addition to the regular members of the commission. The auxiliary member shall sit as an active member upon the request of the chairman when and if a regular member of the commission is unable to serve at any meeting or portion of a meeting of the commission.
(c) Officers: The commission shall organize annually by electing from its membership a chairman, vice-chairman and secretary. Said commission may adopt rules of procedure deemed necessary in discharging its duties.
(d) Meetings: Five (5) members of the commission shall constitute a quorum and the concurring votes of four (4) of the members present shall be necessary for a decision. No vacancy in the membership shall impair the right of a quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the commission.
(e) Public Access and Open Meetings: All meetings of the commission shall be open to the public, and any person or his duly constituted representative shall be entitled to appear before and be heard on any matter before the commission prior to the final decision. The commission shall keep a record of its proceedings and actions, which shall be kept on file for public view at the office of the director of planning and development. (Ch. No. 3175, Sec. 2, 11-3-75; Ch. No. 5073, Sec. 1, 1-17-89)
Note--Formerly, Sec. 2-57.
The commission shall have the following powers and duties:
(a) Prepare or cause to prepare for the City of Woonsocket, the boundaries of historic districts to be incorporated in and to comprise the historic map of the City of Woonsocket. The survey of the Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission shall form the basis for determining sites and structures to be included in the historic district but in no way shall limit the commission from developing its own criteria for the delineation of historic districts.
(b) Within any district shown on the historic district map of the City of Woonsocket referred to above, no new structure shall be created and no existing structure shall be altered, repaired, moved or demolished in any manner affecting the exterior appearance or location of such structure until a certificate of appropriateness has been issued by the historic districts commission of the City of Woonsocket in accordance with the provisions of this section. The regulations pertaining to the various zoning districts which may be included within any historic district shall apply together with the additional requirements set forth in this article.
(c) To submit said historic district map of the City of Woonsocket to the city council for acceptance, approval and filing.
(d) To submit and recommend to the City Council a list of specific buildings and structures which are deemed to be of historic or architectural value; and from time to time to add or delete from such list any specific buildings or structures.
It shall be the duty of the commission to give notice in writing to the owners of property being considered and studied for recommendation as a certified historic place at all stages of the proceedings.
(e) Submit an annual report of its activities to the mayor and city council.
(f) After the approval of the historic district map of the City of Woonsocket, the commission's duties shall be expanded as follows:
(1) Any person, individual, firm or corporation proposing to erect a structure, within an historic district or specific building or structure on the historic district list, in any manner affecting its exterior appearance or location shall file an application for same with the building official of the City of Woonsocket. The building official shall forward said application, together with all maps and pertinent data, to the historic district commission of the City of Woonsocket.
(2) The commission shall, within twelve (12) months of the date the local historic district zoning ordinance takes effect:
a. Adopt and publish all rules and regulations necessary to carry out its functions under the provisions of this article.
b. Publish such standards as necessary to inform historic district residents, property owners and the general public of those criteria by which the commission shall determine whether to issue a certificate of appropriateness. The commission may amend these standards as reasonably necessary and it shall publish all such amendments.
(3) Before a property owner may authorize or commence construction, alteration, repair, removal or demolition affecting the exterior appearance of a structure or its appurtenances within an historic district, the owner must apply for and receive a certificate of appropriateness from the commission. In applying, the owner must comply with application procedures as established by the commission pursuant to this section and the application rules and regulations. The commission shall require the owner to submit information which is reasonably necessary to evaluate the proposed construction, alteration, repair, removal or demolition, including but not limited to plans, drawings, photographs or other information. The owner of the property must obtain a certificate of appropriateness for the project whether or not state law required that he also obtain a permit from the local building official. The building official shall not issue a permit until the commission has granted a certificate of appropriateness.
(4) In reviewing plans, the commission shall give consideration to:
a. The historic and architectural significance of the structure and its appurtenances.
b. The way in which the structure and its appurtenances contribute to the historical and architectural significance of the district.
c. The appropriateness of the general design, arrangement, texture, materials, and siting proposed in the plans.
(5) All decisions of the commission shall be in writing. The commission shall articulate and explain the reasons and basis for each decision on the record; and in case of a decision not to issue a certificate of appropriateness, the commission shall include as the basis for this conclusion that the proposed activity would be incongruous with those aspects of the structure, appurtenances or the district which the commission has determined to be historically or architecturally significant. The commission shall send a copy of the decision to the applicant.
(6) The commission shall meet within fifteen (15) days after its receipt of said application, unless otherwise agreed upon by the applicant and commission and shall review the plans according to the duties and powers specified herein.
(g) It is the intent of this section that the commission be strict in its judgment of plans for structures deemed to be valuable according to studies performed for districts of historic or architectural value. It is also the intent of this section that the commission shall be lenient in its judgment of plans for structures of little historic value or plans for new construction except where such plans would seriously impair the historic or architectural value of surrounding structures or the surrounding structures or the surrounding area. It is not the intent of this section to limit new construction, alterations, or repairs to any one period or architectural style.
(h) In the case of an application for construction, repair or alterations, removal or demolition affecting the exterior appearance of a structure or its appurtenances which the commission deems so valuable to the city, state or nation that the loss thereof will be a great loss or to the city, state or nation, the commission shall endeavor to work out with the owner an economically feasible plan for the preservation of such structure. Unless the commission is satisfied that the retention of such structure constitutes a hazard to public safety which hazard cannot be eliminated by economic means available to the owner, including sale of the structure to any purchaser willing to preserve such structure, or unless the commission votes to issue a certificate of appropriateness for such proposed construction, alteration, and repair, removal or demolition, the commission shall file with the building official or duly delegated representative its rejection of such application. In the absence of a change in such structure arising from casualty, no new application for the same or similar work shall be filed within one (1) year after such rejection.
(i) In the case of any structure deemed to be valuable for the period of architecture it represents and important to the neighborhood within which it exists, the commission may file with the building official or duly delegated authority its certificate of appropriateness for such application if any of the circumstances under which a certificate of appropriateness might have been given under paragraph (h) are in existence; or if:
(1) Preservation of such structure is a deterrent to a major improvement program which will be of substantial benefit to the community;
(2) Preservation of such structure would cause undue or unreasonable hardship to the owner taking into account the financial resources available to the owner including sale of the structure to any purchaser willing to preserve such structure; or
(3) The preservation of such structure would not be in the best interest of the majority of the community. When considering an application to demolish or remove a structure of historic or architectural value, the commission shall assist the owner in identifying and evaluating alternatives to demolition or removal, including sale of the structure and its present site. In addition, to any other criteria the commission also shall consider whether there is a reasonable likelihood that some person or group other than the current owner is willing to purchase, move or preserve such structure and whether the owner has made continuing bona fide and reasonable efforts to sell the structure to any purchaser willing to move and preserve the structure. (Ch. No. 3175, Sec. 3, 11-3-75; Ch. No. 3583, Secs. 1, 2, 5, 2-5-79; Ch. No. 5073, Sec. 1, 1-17-89)
Note--Formerly, Sec. 2-58.
The commission shall file with the building official its certificate of appropriateness or rejection of all plans submitted to it for review. No work shall begin until such certificate shall have been filed, but in the case of rejection such certificate shall be binding upon the building official and no permit shall be issued in such case. The failure of the commission to act within forty-five (45) days from the date the application was filed with it, unless an extension is agreed upon mutually by the applicant and the commission, shall be deemed to constitute approval. In the event, however, that the commission shall make a finding of fact that the circumstances of a particular application requires further time for additional study and information than can be obtained within the aforesaid period of forty-five (45) days, then and in said event the said commission shall have a period of up to ninety (90) days within which to act upon such application.
Nothing in this article shall be construed to prevent ordinary maintenance or repair of any structure within the historic district provided that such maintenance or repair does not result in any change in design, type of material, or appearance of the structure or its appurtenances; nor shall anything in this article be construed to prevent the construction, alteration, repair, moving or demolition of any structure under a permit issued by the building official prior to the passage of such ordinance. (Ch. No. 3175, Sec. 4, 11-3-75; Ch. No. 5073, Sec. 1, 1-17-89)
Note--Formerly, Sec. 2-59.
The city may by ordinance empower the city council, in consultation with the historic districts commission, to identify structures of historical or architectural value, with deteriorated physical condition endangers the preservation of such structures or its appurtenances. The council shall publish standards for maintenance of properties within historic districts. Upon the petition of the historic districts commission that an historic structure is so deteriorated that its preservation is endangered, the council may establish a reasonable time not less than thirty (30) days within which the owner must begin repairs. If the owner has not begun repairs within the allowed time, the council shall hold a hearing at which the owner may appear and state his reasons for not commencing repairs. If the owner does not appear at the hearing or does not comply with the council's order, the council may cause the required repairs to be made at the expense of the city and cause a lien to be placed against the property for repayment. (Ch. No. 5073, Sec. 1, 1-17-89)
The commission shall consult with city officials and agencies, especially the department of planning and development, and other citizens groups in preparation of any historic districts. Individuals and groups with expertise in historic zoning and preservation may assist the commission in preparation of any historic districts submissions. The commission shall keep the residents and property owners of areas under consideration for historic zoning informed of the commission's proceedings and involve local residents in the commission's work. (Ch. No. 3175, Sec. 5, 11-3-75)
Note--Formerly, Sec. 2-60.
Any duly authorized local official or any local building official may bring an action against any property owner who fails to comply with the requirements of this article. Such action shall be brought in the superior court having jurisdiction where the violation occurred or is likely to occur. Plaintiffs may seek restraining orders or injunctive relief to restrain and enjoin violations or threatened violations of this article.
It shall be the duty of any owner conveying property within an historic district or certified historic place to notify the grantee that the said premises are located within an historic district, or designated as a certified historic place. Compliance with said requirement shall be conclusive by including the following words in said conveyance:
"The herein described premises are within an historic district, or have been designated as a certified historic place."
(Ch. No. 3175, Sec. 7, 11-3-75; Ch. No. 3583, Sec. 4, 2-5-79; Ch. No. 5073, Sec. 1, 1-17-89)
Note--Formerly, Sec. 2-62.
A person or persons jointly or severally aggrieved by a decision of the historic districts commission shall have the right to appeal the decision to the zoning board of review. When hearing appeals from commission decisions, the zoning board of review shall not substitute its own judgment for that of the commission, but must consider the issue upon the findings and record of the commission. The zoning board of review shall not reverse a commission decision except on a finding of prejudicial procedural error, clear error, or lack of support by the weight of the evidence in the record. The zoning board of review shall put its decisions on appeal in writing. The zoning board of review shall articulate and explain the reasons and basis of each decision on the record, and the zoning board of review shall send a copy of the decision to the applicant and to the historic district commission. (Ch. No. 3175, Sec. 8, 11-3-75; Ch. No. 5073, Sec. 1, 1-17-89)
Note--Formerly, Sec. 2-63.
(a) Authority: The Historic Districts Commission of the City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, is hereby empowered and authorized to accept and receive from any owner of real property within the City of Woonsocket any easement, or other acceptable surrender of rights and privileges, including but not limited to, real property either of a historically, architecturally or environmentally significant nature. The commission shall study and investigate each individual proposed easement and may, on behalf of the City of Woonsocket, accept or refuse such easement or property donation.
(b) Acceptance of Easement: The commission shall accept easements in accordance with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, and the General Laws of the State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations. It is clearly the intention of this section that no instrument shall be accepted or permitted which seeks to avoid or evade taxes on real estate levied by the City of Woonsocket.
(c) Approval by Planning Board, City Council: Prior to the historic districts commission's acceptance of an historic or environmental easement, Woonsocket planning board and city council approval is necessary in order to ensure a coordinated approach regarding long-range development action within the city. Planning board approval shall be by letter signed by the chairman. City council approval shall be by resolution.
(d) Establishment of Rules and Guidelines: The commission shall establish rules and guidelines for the consideration and acceptance of easements.
(e) Payment of Administrative Fees:
(1) The commission shall charge an administrative fee for the administration of each easement and monitoring thereof as required and necessary to ensure compliance. Such fee shall be equal to an amount consisting of five (5) percent of the appraised value of each easement; provided, however, that no fee shall be in an amount less than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) unless specifically approved by the commission. Such funds as shall be received shall be deposited into an historic easement endowment fund, the proceeds of which shall be used to finance the easement monitoring program.
(2) Any exception to the above-cited fee schedule may be made only upon the written request of the donor and the affirmative votes of no less than five (5) members of the commission. The written request of the donor shall explain the reasons for seeking an exception to the fee schedule. The owner shall certify that the donation shall not take place without an exception. (Ch. No. 4252, Secs. 1--5, 4-16-84; Ch. No. 5073, Sec. 1, 1-17-89)
Note--Formerly, Sec. 2-60.1.
The City Council of the City of Woonsocket hereby grants and establishes, subject to the provisions of this article, an exemption from taxation, and/or freeze, the valuation of the stock-in-trade or inventory of wholesalers as herein provided. (Ch. No. 4692, Sec. 1, 3-16-87)
(a) The term "wholesaler" as used in this article shall mean and include a person, partnership, corporation or other business entity which:
(1) Is engaged in the business of selling goods for subsequent resale by its customers; and
(2) Has duly made application for such status pursuant to section 2-73 hereof.
Except as provided in section 2-72(b) hereof, no distinction shall be drawn between a wholesaler all or a portion of the sales of which are sales to one (1) or more customers affiliated with such wholesaler and a wholesaler the sales of which are exclusively sales to customers not affiliated with such wholesaler. A wholesaler shall be considered affiliated with customers if it controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such customers.
(b) The term "inventory or stock-in-trade of a wholesaler" shall mean and include the merchandise kept on hand by a wholesaler for sale in the normal and regular course of a wholesale business. (Ch. No. 4692, Sec. 1, 3-16-87)
(a) Exemption. Beginning with the assessment of tangible personal property tax to be made as of December 31, 1988, and thereafter through the later to occur as of December 31, 2007, or action by the city council, effective subsequent to such date, to repeal this article, no tax shall be assessed with respect to the inventory or stock-in-trade of a wholesaler, except as provided in paragraph (b) hereof.
(b) Apportionment. In the event that a wholesaler sold inventory or stock-in-trade both at wholesale and at retail in the preceding calendar year, the city assessor shall assess on the same basis as retailer's inventory or stock-in-trade as of December 31 of such year, to the extent permitted by applicable law, that proportion of the inventory or stock-in-trade of such wholesaler which shall be equal to the percentage of such wholesaler's total sales during the preceding calendar year that were at retail. For the purposes of this paragraph, sales at retail shall not include sales to employees of the wholesaler or to employees of its affiliates. If retail sales are less than one (1) percent of total sales during such year, it shall be deemed that no sales were made at retail during such year. All of the sales of a wholesaler to a customer which is an affiliated entity shall be deemed to be retail sales for the purposes of this paragraph if more than half of the dollar volume of the sales of such affiliated entity is made within the City of Woonsocket. (Ch. No. 4692, Sec. 1, 3-16-87)
(a) Application Procedure. Persons, partnerships, corporations and other business entities desiring the benefits of this article shall annually file an application on the forms to be provided by the tax assessor for such purpose at the time provided for the filing of an account pursuant to section 44-5-15 of the General Laws of Rhode Island, 1956 (Reenactment of 1980), as the same may hereafter be amended, or any statute hereinafter enacted in substitution thereof. Each application shall be sworn to by the applicant under penalties of perjury. Such application shall contain:
(1) A statement of the applicant's name and the address at which the inventory or stock-in-trade is located;
(2) A statement that the applicant is a wholesaler within the meaning of this section;
(3) A statement as to whether the applicant made any retail sales during the preceding calendar year; and
(4) If the applicant made sales of merchandise at retail in the preceding calendar year, a statement of the percentage of the applicant's total sales which represent sales at retail in such calendar year.
(b) Additional Information Required. The applicant also shall provide to the tax assessor such additional information, certifications, records or proof as the tax assessor deems necessary. (Ch. No. 4692, Sec. 1, 3-16-87)
Effective for the assessments of tangible personal property tax to be made as of December 31, 1987, the city assessor shall not increase the assessed valuation of the inventory or the stock-in-trade of a wholesaler from those values assessed on December 31, 1986. (Ch. No. 4692, Sec. 1, 3-16-87)
This article shall be effective with respect to the tax assessments to be made as of December 31, 1987, and thereafter; and any exemption from tax contained herein may not be repealed with respect to tax assessments to be made prior to December 31, 2008, provided that the foregoing shall not preclude or restrict amendments to procedural or definitional portions of this article to take account of changes in law or circumstances or better to carry out the intentions of the city council. All ordinances or portions thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. (Ch. No. 4692, Sec. 1, 3-16-87)
Definitions:
For the purposes of this ordinance, "Solar energy projects" and "solar energy systems" refer to the physical assets required to accomplish the active conversion of sunlight into electrical energy, either directly through photovoltaic cells or indirectly with concentrated solar power technologies of various types that concentrate thermal energy from the sun for use in the generation of electricity, as well as the assets required to connect the power generation equipment to the regional electrical grid and/or the power distribution equipment to the building where the system is located.
a. Persons, partnerships, corporations and other business entities desiring the benefits of this article shall file a written application on the form provided by the Tax Assessor's office, at or before the time of applying for all the necessary building, electrical, and/or mechanical permits required to install a solar energy system, sworn to under penalties of perjury and containing:
1. A statement of the applicant's name and the address at which the solar energy system shall be installed;
2. The installed capacity of the system, stated in term of kW
3. A detailed written description of the solar energy system to be installed, in lieu of this description, a copy of the plans submitted to the Building Inspection Division in support of the permit application may be attached;
4. Such additional information, certifications, records or proof as the tax assessor deems necessary.
b. Upon finding the application complete, the Assessor shall apply the rate used to calculate a payment in lieu of taxes to the installed capacity of the subject system to arrive at the payment, which shall be due and payable upon the same schedule and terms as tangible property tax bills issued by the City.
c. For the first three years of this program, the Assessor shall apply the rate of $3.20 per kW installed. Every three years thereafter, the Assessor shall adjust the rate in accordance with industry and economic trends, using wherever possible an average derived from as large a sample as can be gathered of rates used in Rhode Island for these purposes.
Implementation:
a. Once enrolled, the applicant shall be included in the program for a period of 20 years;
b. This article shall be implemented by enrolling new systems on the same schedule as the regular tax assessments to be made as of December 31, 2013, and thereafter;
c. The foregoing shall not preclude or restrict amendments to procedural or definitional portions of this article to take account of changes in law or circumstances or better to carry out the intentions of the City Council.
(Ch. No. 7718, Secs. 1-5, 5-21-2013)
a. Any property that is exempt from property tax as provided for in Rhode Island General Laws §44-3-3. Property Exempt shall not be deemed as taxable and assessed a real estate tax bill without the approval of the city council by resolution.
b. Whenever the tax assessor shall determine that any property currently considered as tax exempt shall become classified as taxable for failure to be in compliance with the definitions under which it is classified as exempt under Rhode Island General Laws §44-3-3 Property Exempt, the tax assessor shall immediately notify the property owner, in writing and certified mail, of his/her decision. The notification shall include the reasons for the decision; the assessed value to be used and estimated tax amount that will be levied as a consequence of the change (based upon most recent tax rate); and reference to all appropriate state law and local ordinances. The property owner shall have 90 days to appeal the decision to the tax assessor.
c. The tax assessor shall provide the city council with a copy of all such decisions and related communications at their first regular meeting following the issuance of the communication with the taxpayer.
(Ch. No. 8143, Sec. 1, 10-21-2019)
Notwithstanding the provisions of R.I. General Law § 44-5-26 regarding any
appeals by a petitioner to the tax assessor, any decision made by the tax assessor, or in the case of no decision, the tax assessor shall notify the taxpayer in writing of the decision, or no decision, as is the case.
The communication shall include a full description of the taxpayers further appeal options and include all time period limitations for any such appeal.
(Ch. No. 8126, Secs. 1 & 2, 10-7-2019)
(Editor's note--Ch. No. 5008, adopted Sept. 19, 1988, did not specifically amend this Code; hence, inclusion of Secs. 1--3 as Ch. 2, Art. VI, Secs. 2-86--2-88, was at the discretion of the editor.)
The planned and coordinated development of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor within the jurisdictional limits of the City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, is hereby declared to be a public purpose. It is hereby declared to be the purpose of this article to:
(a) Safeguard and highlight the heritage of the City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, by encouraging and coordinating the development of the Blackstone River's resources.
(b) Stabilize and improve property values within the corridor and surrounding areas through various available federal, state and local programs.
(c) Foster civic beauty and community pride.
(d) Strengthen the local economy through the introduction of available federal, state and local programs and funds.
(e) Promote the use of the Corridor for the education, pleasure and welfare of the citizens of the City of Woonsocket. (Ch. No. 5008, Sec. 1, 9-19-88)
(a) Establishment. There is hereby established a "Woonsocket Heritage Corridor Planning and Advisory Commission" of the City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, to carry out the purpose of this article.
(b) Membership and Appointments. Said commission shall consist of thirteen (13) members to be appointed by the mayor. Members shall be appointed for a term of five (5) years; except that the initial appointment of two (2) members shall be for one (1) year; two (2) members for two (2) years; three (3) members for three (3) years; three (3) members for four (4) years; and three (3) members for five (5) years. Members shall be eligible for reappointment. In making appointments the mayor may consult with any duly existing organized and existing preservation, historical and/or environmental group, organization or societies which may submit a list of qualified citizens for the mayor's consideration. In the event a vacancy occurs on the commission, interim appointments may be made by the mayor to complete the unexpired vacant term.
They mayor shall appoint to the commission as ex officio members thereof the director of planning and development, the director of public works (or his designee), the director of finance and administration (or his designee) and the city planner. Such ex officio members shall serve as full members of the commission with all the rights and privileges of membership.
In choosing members the mayor shall consider the appointment of persons who represent the Woonsocket Conservation Commission, the Woonsocket Historical Society, the Woonsocket Planning Board, the City Council, and the Historic Districts Commission of the City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
Members of the commission shall serve without compensation.
(c) Meetings. Seven (7) members shall constitute a quorum, and the concurring votes of at least five (5) of the members of the commission present shall be necessary for a decision. No vacancy in the membership shall impair the right of a duly constituted quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the commission. In determining a quorum for meetings no ex officio member shall be recorded as present.
All meetings of the commission shall be open to the public, and any person or his duly constituted representative shall be entitled to appear and be heard on any matter before the commission before it reaches its decisions. The provisions of the Rhode Island Open Meetings Law notwithstanding, no meeting of the commission shall be held in closed session in a manner prohibiting public access thereto.
The commission shall elect from its members a chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary and shall adopt rules of procedure which it shall deem appropriate and may from time to time amend such rules of procedure.
The commission shall keep a record of its proceedings and action; which record shall be on file for public view at the office of the director of planning and development.
(d) Powers, Duties and Responsibilities of the Commission. The duties, powers and responsibilities of the commission shall include but not be limited to the following:
(1) To serve as the planning and review commission to work with the department of planning and development, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, and the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission to plan, effectuate and coordinate the plans, activities, programs and projects dealing with the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor as it deals with the City of Woonsocket.
(2) Advise and recommend to the mayor, the city council, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, and the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission any action, plans, activities or programs related to the Woonsocket portion of the corridor and the management thereof.
(3) To recommend to the mayor and the city council, as well as the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission, a design, plans and course of action for the development of the Blackstone River National Heritage Corridor as it pertains to the City of Woonsocket.
(4) To engage, if appropriate, any professional consultant services deemed necessary to the discharge of its duties and responsibilities subject to approval by the city council and mayor by resolution, and funding thereof by ordinance in accordance with the Woonsocket Home Rule Charter.
(5) To generally serve as an advisory board for the implementation of such plans, projects and/or programs.
(Ch. No. 5008, Sec. 2, 9-19-88)
The department of planning and development shall serve as the staff of the heritage corridor planning and advisory commission. (Ch. No. 5008, Sec. 3, 9-19-88)
(Editor's note--Ordinance Ch. No. 6164, Secs. 1--6, adopted Nov. 20, 1995, enacted provisions pertaining to an economic development and business committee. Such provisions did not specifically amend the Code, but have been designated by the editor as div. 2, Secs. 2-111--2-116.
There shall be a group known as the Woonsocket Economic Development and Business Committee (WEDBC), whose purpose shall be to serve as an advisory board to the mayor and city council on matters pertaining to economic and business development but not limited to the promotion, maintenance and expansion of business and industry within the city. The committee shall consist of eleven (11) members chosen by the mayor. These members shall be chosen from all areas of the business community that are physically located in the city.
(Ch. No. 6164, Sec. 1, 11-20-95)
The mayor shall appoint all eleven (11) members of the committee. The committee shall be directly responsible to the mayor and city council and shall not be answerable to any other person or body within city government. Members of the committee shall serve for a term of two (2) years and until a successor is appointed and qualified. The mayor may remove any member of the committee before their term expires and all vacancies shall be filled for the balance of an unexpired term by the mayor.
(Ch. No. 6164, Sec. 2, 11-20-95)
The committee shall elect officers from among its own members. The officers shall be as follows: chairperson, vice-chairperson and secretary. All officers shall hold office until the expiration of their term, their resignation or the appointment and qualification of a successor to their office.
(1) Chairperson: The chairperson shall preside at all meetings and shall maintain the orderly conduct of committee business. The chairperson may also appoint task group members with the approval of the committee.
(2) Vice-chairperson: The vice-chairperson shall assume the duties of the chairperson in the absence of the chairperson. The vice-chairperson shall act as the secretary in the secretary's absence. The vice-chairperson may also perform other duties as required by the committee.
(3) Secretary: The secretary shall be responsible for the keeping of accurate records, recording of all votes and the maintaining of the minutes of all proceedings. The secretary shall give notice of all meetings as required by state law.
(Ch. No. 6164, Sec. 3, 11-20-95)
The committee shall meet on a monthly basis. The purpose of these meetings shall be to discuss issues pertaining to economic and business development within the city for the purpose of reporting to or making recommendations to the mayor and city council on such matters. They shall investigate such matters that will make the city more "business friendly", streamline the government process for existing businesses as well as prospective business, review existing laws, policies and possible deletions, changes or additions to such. The committee may request information for their purpose from any city department. Other related request(s) shall be forwarded through the mayor.
The minutes of the regular committee meetings shall be made available to the mayor and city council on a monthly basis. On a quarterly basis the committee shall issue a written report to the mayor and city council to outline ongoing current discussion of the committee as well as future initiatives and plans. If in the event a member misses three (3) consecutive meetings, the committee may, after a majority vote, request that the mayor remove such member and replace the member with a suitable replacement. The committee may, after a majority vote, request that the mayor review the membership of any of its members and state the reason why, in writing, and there shall simultaneously be a copy of such written request with an explanation to the city council.
(Ch. No. 6164, Sec. 4, 11-20-95)
All committee meeting minutes and agendas, official incoming and outgoing committee correspondence, and data and references required by the committee to further its business shall be kept by the city clerk and be available to the mayor and city council. Task groups will establish and maintain their own data and reference files in coordination with the secretary to avoid duplication and [such data and files shall] be kept by the city clerk and be available to the mayor and city council. Committee members shall have free access to the public will be given access to specifically designated and official committee studies, recommendations and plans upon request to the city clerk. Access to working papers and reference documents that would compromise any working relationship with a perspective investor in the city will not be authorized without written permission from the mayor.
(Ch. No. 6164, Sec. 5, 11-20-95)
Regular meetings shall be conducted at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall or other announced location on the first Tuesday of the month. Any other meetings shall not meet any earlier than 6:00 p.m. A special meeting may be called by the chairperson or majority of the committee members as deemed necessary to accomplish the goals and objectives of the committee. The committee meetings shall be open to the public except those involving business, the revelation of which would compromise the development plans of business and industry. Notification to the members of the meeting will be made, in writing, by the committee secretary. The notification will be accompanied by a copy of the agenda, time and place of meeting. The meeting shall be posted in accordance with the Rhode Island Open Meeting Law. The meeting notice, agenda and place of meeting shall be forwarded to the mayor and city council.
(Ch. No. 6164, Sec. 6, 11-20-95)
(Editor's note--Ordinance Ch. No. 6211, Secs. 1, 2, adopted Mar. 4, 1996, enacted provisions pertaining to the department of economic development. Such provisions did not specify manner of codification; hence, designation as div. 3, Secs. 2-121, 2-122, has been at the editor's discretion.)
The Department of Economic Development is hereby created to develop and direct the development of various programs, plans, and implementation of projects related to economic development within the City of Woonsocket.
(Ch. No. 6211, Sec. 1, 3-4-96)
The department of economic development shall be headed by the director of economic development, who shall be appointed by the mayor.
(Ch. No. 6211, Sec. 2, 3-4-96)
(Editor's note--Ordinance Ch. No. 2666, Secs. 1--5, adopted Apr. 1, 1996, did not specify manner of codification; hence, such provisions, pertaining to a juvenile hearing board, have been designated by the editor as art. VIII, Secs. 2-151--2-155. Cross references--Miscellaneous offenses, Ch. 14; municipal court, Ch. 14 1/2.
Pursuant to enabling legislation provided in the Rhode Island General Laws, the city council hereby establishes the "Woonsocket Juvenile Board" for the purpose of hearing all cases referred to it by the juvenile division of the police department or the chief of police with respect to persons under the age of eighteen (18) who are charged with violating the laws of the State of Rhode Island or the City of Woonsocket.
(Ch. No. 6222, Sec. 1, 4-1-96)
(a) The membership of the Woonsocket Juvenile Hearing Board (the board) shall consist of five (5) residents and two
(2) alternate residents of the city.
(b) The members of the board shall be appointed by the mayor.
(c) The term of appointment for members of the board shall be for three (3) years except that the initial appointments shall be for less than three (3) years, thereby staggering initial [terms and subsequent] appointments.
(Ch. No. 6222, Sec. 2, 4-1-96)
(a) Persons who are under the age of eighteen (18) years may be referred to the board which shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the Rhode Island family court if the alleged offense is one which if committed by an adult, would be a misdemeanor; provided however, that this requirement shall not apply in the case of any persons:
(1) Charged with the offense of simple assault;
(2) Who shall have been twice previously referred to the board or have been once previously referred and refused or failed to abide by the sanctions imposed or make the restitution recommended; and
(3) Also at the time of the alleged commission of such offense shall be within the custody and control of the family court.
(b) The juvenile division of the police department or the chief of police may refer to the board any other juvenile offender where, in the opinion of the juvenile division or the chief of police, such referral would be beneficial to the juvenile concerned or the community at large.
(c) No referral to the board shall be made until such person, together with his/her legal guardians and/or legal representative shall have, in writing, waived such person's right to a hearing in the family court with respect to the offense charged, has admitted to the alleged offense and shall have agreed to abide by the decision of the board.
(Ch. No. 6222, Sec. 3, 4-1-96)
(a) The board shall be authorized to hear all cases referred by the juvenile division of the police department or the chief of police, and to impose and order sanctions other than incarceration. Such sanctions may include but are not limited to:
(1) Fines up to a maximum of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each offense charged;
(2) Community service;
(3) Restitution for any injuries and/or damages where appropriate, resulting from the commission of any offense;
(4) Imposition of a reasonable curfew;
(5) Denial or revocation of the juvenile's driving privileges for a period of up to two (2) years.
(b) In any such proceedings, the board, prior to imposing sanctions, shall request the juvenile offender and his/her parents or legal guardians to agree to the sanctions imposed, the amount of restitution and manner of making the same. In ordering restitution, the board shall take into account the juvenile offender's ability to pay and amount of actual damage caused as a result of the commission of such offense.
(Ch. No. 6222, Sec. 4, 4-1-96)
(a) At least three (3) members shall constitute a quorum, and a majority of the members present shall be required to take any action. Any juvenile offender may be represented by counsel and may present evidence in his or her behalf.
(b) The board shall have the power from time to time to adopt and publish all rules and regulations necessary to carry out its function under the provisions of this article.
(c) The board shall give notice of the date and time of meeting to the juvenile division of the police department or the chief of police and the alleged juvenile offender and his or her parents or legal guardians, not less than seven (7) days prior to the date of the hearing.
(d) Board proceedings shall be closed to the public, and the provisions of chapter 42-46 of the Rhode Island General Laws shall not apply to such proceedings. All records of proceedings, including records concerning the arrest, apprehension or detention of any juvenile offender, shall be withheld from public inspection but such records shall be available to the parent, legal guardians or attorney of the juvenile for inspection.
(Ch. No. 6222, Sec. 5, 4-1-96)
All properties in arrears for more than three quarterly payments shall be subject to tax sale. Whenever a tax sale takes place, all properties in arrears more than three quarters shall be included in the tax sale, with no exceptions, provided that properties subject to tax
sale for which the owner or an assign makes payment in full or makes a partial payment of at least 15% of the amount past due coupled with signing a formal payment plan that provides a path to payment in full of the remaining past due amounts within a period of
not more than twelve (12) months may be removed from the tax sale list. All tax sales
shall be conducted in conformity with Rhode Island General Laws §44-9 Tax Sales.
Any and all property in which the City holds a tax title interest shall be included in all tax sales conducted subsequent to the City's acquisition of the tax title interest.
The city may not sell, assign or foreclose rights of redemption on any property for which the city holds a tax title interest without first obtaining approval from the City Council via resolution, provided further that, in the case of an assignment or sale of a tax title interest, the city shall first advertise its intention to sell or assign its tax title interest and allow interested parties to submit their names for consideration by the City Council, with the advertising to take place once a week over two consecutive weeks in a manner consistent with the city's normal legal advertisements at least fifteen (15), but not more than thirty (30), days prior to Council approval.
(Ch. No. 8330, Sec. 1, 9-12-2022)