Executive Order 2020-006
March 17, 2020
Suspension of municipal tax penalties during covid-19 pandemic
WHEREAS, on March 15, 2020, Mayor Roberto L. DaSilva, issued Executive Order 2020-004 declaring a state of municipal emergency due to the outbreak of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, Mayor Roberto L. DaSilva, issued the supplemental Executive Order 2020-005 which, amongst other things, restricts the amount of persons attending public gatherings to less than twenty-five (25) persons; and
WHEREAS, the City of East Providence has a strict timeline for payment of taxes and residents who do not pay these taxes on time incur a penalty; and
WHEREAS, this may create a burden to the taxpayers of the city during the COVID-19 Pandemic; and
WHEREAS, Rhode Island General Laws §§30-15-12(b) and 30-15-9(e)(1) permit the Mayor to suspend the provisions of any statute, regulation, or requirement prescribing the procedures for the conduct of city business, or the orders, rules, regulations of any city, board, or agency, if strict compliance with the provisions of any statute, order, rule or regulation would in any way prevent, hinder or delay necessary action in coping with this emergency.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mayor Roberto L. DaSilva, by virtue of the authority vested in me as the Mayor of the City of East Providence, pursuant to the Rhode Island General Laws and the Home Rule Charter of the City of East Providence, do hereby order and direct the following:
1. All late interest charges of city water bills are hereby suspended until further notice.
2. All utility shutoffs related to the late payment of city water bills are hereby suspended until further notice.
3. All deadlines to apply for tax exemptions for residents of the city are hereby suspended until further notice.
4. The city tax sale process shall be suspended for a period of thirty (30) days.
This Executive Order shall take effect immediately and remain in full force and effect through March 24, 2020, and, with the consent of the City Council, it shall continue in effect and automatically renew for a period of seven (7) days through April 30, 2020.
Roberto L. DaSilva
Mayor
