§ 45-2-49 - Town of Burrillville – Municipal court.
SECTION 45-2-49
§ 45-2-49 Town of Burrillville –Municipal court. – (a) The town council of the town of Burrillville may establish a municipalcourt and confer upon that court original jurisdiction, notwithstanding anyother provisions of the general laws, to hear and determine causes involvingviolation of any ordinance, including minimum housing ordinances of the townand any violation of the provisions of chapter 24.3 of this title, entitled the"Rhode Island Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Code"; provided, however, thatany defendant found guilty of any offense, excluding violations of the minimumhousing ordinances or chapter 24.3 of this title, may within seven (7) days ofconviction, file an appeal from the conviction to the superior court and beentitled in the latter court to a trial novo; and provided, further, however,that any defendant found guilty of any violation of a minimum housing ordinanceor in chapter 24.3 of this title, may within seven (7) days of conviction, filean appeal from the conviction to the sixth division of the district court andbe entitled to a trial de novo in accordance with §§ 8-8-3(a)(4) and8-8-3.2.
(b) With respect to violations of either municipal ordinancesdealing with minimum housing or chapter 24.3 et seq. of this title dealing withhousing maintenance and occupancy, the town council may also confer upon themunicipal court, in furtherance of the jurisdiction conferred by this section,the power to proceed according to equity:
(1) To restrain, prevent, enjoin, abate, or correct aviolation;
(2) To order the repair, vacation, or demolition of anydwelling, existing in violation; or
(3) To compel compliance with all of the provisions of thoseordinances and statutes.
(c) The town council of the town of Burrillville isauthorized and empowered to appoint a judge and clerk of the municipal court.The town council of the town is authorized and empowered to enact ordinancesgoverning the personnel, operation, and procedure to be followed in the courtand to establish a schedule of fees and costs and to provide for the operationand management of the court. The municipal court may impose a fine not inexcess of five hundred dollars ($500). The court is empowered to administeroaths, compel the attendance of witnesses, and punish persons for contempt.