(a) Newport and Middletown. The question of the approval of this act [this article] shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the City of Newport and the Town of Middletown at the next general or special election to be held in said city and town; but if a special state election, other than a primary, is called for an earlier date which occurs at least thirty days after the passage of this act, the question of the approval of this act shall be submitted at the first such special election. The question shall be submitted in substantially the following form: "Shall an act passed at the January 1969 session of the general assembly, entitled `An act authorizing the establishment of a regional disposal authority for Aquidneck Island' be approved?" The warning for the election shall contain the question to be submitted. From the time the election is warned and until it is held, it shall be the duty of the city clerk and the town clerk to keep a copy of the act available at his office for public inspection, but any failure of either clerk to perform this duty shall not affect the validity of the election.
(b) Portsmouth. The town council of the Town of Portsmouth is authorized to place on the warrant for action at a regular or special financial town meeting the proposition to approve this act [this article] or to submit such questions with reference to this act which require town meeting approval. The council shall submit the question only if and when the council deems it practicable for the town to join the authority but the council need not make an express finding to this effect. The manner of submitting the question shall be the same as provided heretofore in this paragraph. The Town of Portsmouth shall not become a member of the authority, either as a party to the original agreement or as an additional member, unless this act shall have been approved by a majority of those voting on the question pursuant to this paragraph. (P.L. 1969, ch. 110, § 14.)
Editors note. Chapter 10, Public Laws 1969, was ratified by the voters of Middletown at a special election held June 24, 1969, and by the voters of Newport at a special election on the same day, but was rejected by the voters of Portsmouth at a financial town meeting held January 24, 1970.