R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-12-19: Charter provisions as to referendum.

The charter of any city or town may provide that the issuance of bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the city or town be by ordinance or by resolution after the issuance of the bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the city or town have been authorized by general or special law. The charter may provide that the ordinance or resolution becomes effective only upon approval by a majority of electors voting thereon; provided, that the charter provision is inoperative and ineffective, and the ordinance or resolution becomes effective without approval by the electors of the city or town, whenever the general or special law which authorizes the issuance of the bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness provides substantially that the general or special law becomes effective upon acceptance or approval by the electors of the city or town; and provided, further, that the charter provision shall be operative and effective as to this ordinance or resolution only whenever the general or special law which authorizes the issuance of the bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness has become effective without acceptance or approval by the electors of the city or town, and contains no provision requiring the acceptance or approval of the electors of the city or town as a prerequisite to the issuance of the bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the city or town.