Whenever any special act creating a corporation, the provisions of which are not subject to amendment or repeal at the will of the general assembly, refers to and adopts, either expressly or by implication, any statute or part of a statute previously repealed, the statute or part of a statute referred to and adopted is not deemed repealed, but is for the purpose for which it is referred to and adopted, but for no other purpose, deemed to be in force.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 7-1-14