Rhode Island General Laws Title 45. Towns and Cities § 45-39.2-9. Separation of utility assets and fire protection assets

Upon January 1, 2025, ownership of the utility assets previously titled to, or otherwise owned or controlled by, the Pascoag utility district and the Harrisville fire district shall be transferred to the electric and water district, subject to any security interest of record relating to such utility assets, which security interests, if any, shall remain in full force and effect and be unimpaired by the transfer of ownership of the utility assets. All fire protection assets that are the property of Harrisville fire district on January 1, 2025, shall remain the property of the Harrisville fire district. To the extent that individual assets presently titled to the Harrisville fire district cannot be classified as either utility assets or fire protection assets, the electric and water district and the fire district shall negotiate in good faith to transfer title to such assets to one entity or the other, with or without cost but in all cases preserving any applicable contract rights of third parties. The electric and water district and the fire district may agree to joint ownership or control of assets that cannot reasonably be classified as either utility assets or fire protection assets. Notwithstanding anything in this chapter to the contrary, the electric and water district shall take ownership and provide for the care and maintenance of fire hydrants located within the Harrisville fire district; provided, the Harrisville fire district shall be granted full access to such hydrants in the performance of its fire suppression duties, for which the electric and water district may charge a reasonable usage fee.