A. Any city or town operating a paid fire department may contract with a private entity, organization, corporation or company for the performance of the essential functions of fire suppression, prevention, and life safety duties in a fire department and, if required, transfer capital assets used in fire protection services to a public trust for the use of the private entity, organization, corporation or company in providing such services. Pursuant to the provisions of this act, the mayor shall issue an order calling for an election on the question of whether or not the city or town shall change its method of providing fire protection if:
1. An initiative petition is filed with the governing body of the municipality; or
2. The governing body, by resolution, so directs.
B. The initiative petition or resolution of the governing body shall be filed with the clerk of the municipality at least one hundred twenty (120) days before the filing date for the next municipal general election. The order calling for the election regarding fire protection services shall be issued by the mayor of the municipality within ten (10) days after a decision has been made on the ballot title, or within ten (10) days after the effective date of the resolution of the governing body.
Added by Laws 1997, c. 142, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1997.