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NBC 10 I-Team: Fire districts accused of violating 'sunshine laws'


Western Coventry Fire District (top) and Manville Fire Department are accused of violating open records laws.
Western Coventry Fire District (top) and Manville Fire Department are accused of violating open records laws.
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Two small Rhode Island fire districts are being sued by the state attorney general for allegedly violating so-called sunshine laws.

The laws are designed to make sure the public has access to information about what's being done with tax money.

A concerned citizen complained that the Western Coventry Fire District failed to file minutes of a recent meeting for the second time in less than a year.

Western Coventry fire officials told the attorney general's office last year they didn't realize they were breaking the law. But that explanation only works once. So this time, the fire district faces a $5,000 fine.

The second case involves the Manville Fire Department in Lincoln.

The attorney general's office said a public records request filed last year was ignored. Officials asked for additional time, but never responded.

Like Western Coventry, the Manville Fire Department was warned in the past about violating public records laws.

The department faces a potential fine of $2,000.

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