This Charter shall take effect on the first Monday in January, 1997, if the Board of Canvassers shall have certified that it was approved by the electors of the Town voting thereon, or upon the date of such certification if the same shall be made later than the first Monday in January, 1997.
This Charter shall be placed before the electors of the Town of West Greenwich at the general election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1996, for their approval or rejection.
A.
At said election, all Town offices which had been filled by vote of the electors of the Town or appointed by the Council heretofore, shall be filled in the same manner as previously, and all persons so elected or appointed shall serve the terms set for their offices regardless of whether or not this Charter is approved. In the event of such approval, those so elected whose offices have been made appointive under this Charter shall, upon completion of their terms, have their offices filled by appointment approved herein.
B.
Offices heretofore filled by Council appointment shall continue to be so appointed as provided in this Charter. Offices previously filled at the general election, and which under the terms of this Charter are to be filled by Council appointment, shall be so appointed upon the expiration of the terms they were serving as of the general election of November, 1996.
In the event that it proves necessary to make any changes or transfers of funds appropriated in the budget for the fiscal year during which this Charter takes effect, to facilitate the operation of the Town government under the provisions of the Charter, the Council shall have the power to make such changes or transfers accordingly.
All Town ordinances, resolutions, orders, and regulations which are in force when this Charter becomes effective are repealed to the extent that they are inconsistent with or interfere with the effective operation of this Charter, or of ordinances, resolutions, orders and regulations adopted pursuant hereto. To the extent that the Constitution and laws of the State permit, all general laws or special acts relating to or affecting the Town or its agencies, officers, or employees which are in effect when this Charter becomes effective, are superseded to the extent they are inconsistent with or interfere with the effective operation of this Charter, or of ordinances, resolutions, orders, and regulations adopted pursuant hereto. The Council shall proceed to enact or adopt as promptly as possible any ordinances, rules, resolutions and orders which are necessary to implement the provision of this Charter.
All taxes levied or assessed by the Town prior to the effective date of this Charter which have not been collected by the Town shall be collected with any interest or penalties thereon by the Town acting under this Charter in accordance with law. All licenses and permits issued by the Town, or any agency thereof, prior to the effective date of this Charter, shall continue in full force and effect until the termination date thereof unless superseded or revoked for cause. All contracts, leases, franchises and other obligations entered into by the Town, or for its benefit, prior to the effective date of this Charter, shall continue in full force and effect.
No actions or proceedings, civil or criminal, in law or in equity, pending at the time when this Charter shall take effect, brought by or against the Town, or any office, department, agency or officer thereof, shall be affected or abated by the adoption of this Charter or by anything contained in this Charter.
All commissions, boards, departments, or offices, whether elective or appointed, shall continue in the performance of their powers, duties and functions as heretofore, subject to the provision of this Charter.
All persons employed in the service of the Town on the effective date of this Charter, shall continue in such employment until promoted, demoted or removed in accordance with the provision of this Charter or ordinance enacted pursuant hereto.