This Charter may be amended at any time, or a new Charter adopted,
in the manner provided by the Constitution of the State. No amendment
or proposed new Charter shall be placed before the electors for a
vote thereon by the Council until a public hearing has been held on
all such amendments or on such new Charter.
[Amended 11-4-2008]
In the fifth (5th) year following the year of the adoption of
this Charter, and in each subsequent fifth (5th) year, the Town Council
shall appoint, no later than the first month of the fifth year after
the previous election proposing charter revisions, a Charter Review
Commission of nine (9) members, all of whom shall be electors and
residents of the Town and who shall be broadly representative of the
community. Said Commission shall review the operation of the Charter
of the Town, and propose to the Council such amendments, if any, as
it may deem necessary and advisable. The Town Council may appoint
additional Charter Review Commissions at any time in the same manner
as aforesaid. A public hearing shall be held on any and all recommendations
emanating from a Charter Review Commission, prior to any decision
by the Town Council to accept or reject said recommendations.
(a)
Vote. Proposed amendments to this Charter shall be submitted to the
voters of Smithfield at either a special or general election in the
manner prescribed by State law. It shall not be necessary for the
full text of proposed amendments, or of a proposed new Charter, to
be printed on the ballot. A digest or description thereof, or any
statement or question which substantially expresses the purpose or
identifies the subject matter to be voted upon shall be sufficient.
The Town Council shall approve of the wording of any such digest,
description, statement or question as it shall appear upon the ballot.
A copy of the full text of the proposed amendments, or of the proposed
new Charter, shall be posted in each polling place, Town Hall and
such other places as may be designated by the Canvassing Authority.
(b)
Adoption. If a majority of the qualified voters of the Town voting
upon a proposed Charter amendment vote in favor of it, the amendment
shall become effective at the time fixed in the amendment or, if no
time is therein fixed, 30 (thirty) days after its adoption by the
voters. Should two (2) or more amendments adopted at the same time
have conflicting provisions, the one receiving the largest affirmative
vote shall prevail. The section of any amendment added to this Charter
shall be numbered by the Town Clerk and inserted in its appropriate
place.
