LINCOLN - Thirteen people, 12 of them Lime Rock Fire District residents, have filed suit against the Lime Rock Fire District, Chief Frank Sylvester, and record keeper Lesley Heaton, alleging "hundreds" of knowing and willful violations of the Access to Public Records Act.

Among the documents requested were Sylvester's employment contracts, his e-mails, proof that the chief had received permission to garage his personal vehicles on public property over 23 years as he has claimed, and proof that the chief accepted an appointment to become the state's fire marshal on a 'leave of absence' temporary basis as he has claimed.

The Lime Rock Fire District provided none of the requested documents, according to a news release, with accompanying backup documents, from Pawtucket-based attorney Mark McBurney, who is representing the plaintiffs in the case.

The complaint, filed on Monday of this week, Jan. 23, in Providence Superior Court, alleges eight violations for each of the 13 plaintiffs under the Access to Public Records Act and lists Chief Sylvester and record keeper Heaton as defendants.

A similar suit, filed on Jan. 6, alleged 14 violations of the Access to Public Records Act. That suit only listed the Lime Rock Fire District as a defendant, according to McBurney.

On Sept. 20, 2011, the Rhode Island Ethics Commission commenced a 'full investigation' of Sylvester for his 23 years of paying his car registration taxes from his workplace, the Lime Rock Fire Department, instead of his residence on Gates Street in Pawtucket.

The Ethics Commission's investigation, which is ongoing, is open to further submissions of evidence from the public, said the attorney. To obtain evidence for submission to the Ethics Commission, the plaintiffs, as well as six other Lime Rock residents, filed requests for public documents on the Lime Rock Fire Department between Jan. 4 and Jan. 9.

Monday's lawsuit is the latest chapter in the ongoing controversy of Chief Sylvester and his years-long effort to skirt Pawtucket's higher car tax rate by registering his personal vehicles at his place of work in Lincoln.

Last year the Rhode Island State Police determined that the chief was breaking the law by registering his cars at the Lime Rock Fire Department, but did not press charges in the matter. The state police left it up to Pawtucket officials to "determine if any further action to collect (those) taxes from Chief Sylvester is appropriate."

Pawtucket city officials have said they want to pursue back taxes from Sylvester for the years he wrongfully paid them to Lincoln.