R.I. House Approves Fire District Merger Legislation

The Rhode Island House voted 73-0 Wednesday in favor of a bill that would abolish the East Greenwich Fire District, allowing for the establishment of a Town of East Greenwich fire department. Two members abstained.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Anthony Giarrusso (R-E.G.). It came at the request of the Town Council following a two-thirds majority vote on a referendum last November that asked EG voters if they thought the Fire District should become part of the town. As it stands, the Fire District is a completely separate municipal entity, with its own taxing authority.

An identical bill is before the state Senate. The Senate Finance Committee approved that bill Tuesday; a vote before the full Senate could happen next week. If that bill passes, it's not quite clear what would happen next, since only one bill can proceed to Governor Chafee's desk for signing. Possibly, one chamber would vote on the other chamber's bill and that would be the legislation signed by the governor. 

Once the legislation becomes law, if that happens, the real work will then begin, as the town must incorporate fire district employees, properties and functions. Stay tuned.

Ed. Note: The vote was recorded incorrectly in the original version of this story.