Legislation intended to give the City Council of Central Falls and any other community that lands in receivership a greater say in decision-making is headed to Gov. Lincoln Chafee's desk.
Rhode Island's General Assembly passed the measure last week.
Central Falls has been under receivership since May 2010, with retired state Supreme Court Justice Robert Flanders serving as receiver.
Rep. Agostinho Silva and Sen. Elizabeth Crowley, both Central Falls Democrats, co-sponsored the bill, saying the law that allowed receivership of Central Falls called for an advisory role for city councilors, but that Flanders has not consulted with the City Council on key decisions.
"The people I represent are not happy at all," said Warwick attorney Lawrence Goldberg, who represents the council. "Thanks to the legislature, Central Falls has a state-appointed dictator. Look at what's happened to the bond rating since then."
Moody's Investors Service last month downgraded the city's general obligation bond rating one level to Caa1 from B3, and warned about a "heightened potential" for a default this summer.
