Rhode Island General Laws Title 45. Towns and Cities § 45-29-19. Filing of plat and statement by city--Service and publication of notice

(a) Subject to the previously stated provisions, the city shall commence proceedings to condemn by filing in the records of land evidence for the city, a description of the property to be taken and a plat of it, and a statement that the property is desired to be taken by condemnation pursuant to the provisions of §§ 45-29-13 - 45-29-32, and shall simultaneously file in the office of the clerk of the superior court in and for the county in which the lands or any interest in the lands are located, a like description, plat, and statement, all of which shall be signed by the mayor of the city.

(b) Notice of the taking of the property desired to be condemned shall be served upon the owners of, and persons having an estate in, and interested in the land, by the city sergeant of the city, by leaving a true and attested copy of the description and statement with each of those persons personally, or at the last and usual place of abode of those persons, respectively, in this state, with some person living there; and in case those persons are absent from this state and/or have no last and usual place of abode in this state occupied by any person, or in case the whereabouts of any person shall be unknown to the city sergeant, the copies shall be left with the persons, if any, in charge of or having possession of the property, and another copy shall be mailed by the city sergeant postpaid to absent persons, at their last known addresses, respectively, to the extent that the addresses are known to the city sergeant.

(c) Upon the filing of the description, plat, and statement, the city clerk shall cause them to be published in some newspaper published in the city, or if none, then in some newspaper published in the county, in which the lands are located, at least twice a week for three (3) successive weeks.