Whenever the Township of Ridley, by ordinance, shall authorize the grading,
subgrading or the permanent paving and improvement of any streets or alleys
or parts thereof, or the construction of curbs, sidewalks or sewers, an assessment
shall be made of the cost thereof against the properties abutting on such
improvements according to the front-foot rule.
It shall be the duty of the Township Engineer, immediately after completion
of such improvements, to compute the cost thereof and apportion the cost thereof
against the properties abutting thereon according to the front-foot rule.
In such computation, the said Engineer shall be required to calculate the
actual cost of labor and materials or the contract price thereof, engineering
fees, advertisement costs and such other costs as are necessary to the prosecution
and completion of the said municipal improvement. He shall estimate the exemptions
or reductions, if any, as required or permitted by law, where such abutting
owner is, in his opinion, entitled to such, and shall thereupon submit his
computation to the Board of Township Commissioners. Upon approval of the said
Engineer's computation by the said Board, the said Engineer shall certify,
in writing, the amount of the assessment made against each property.
After such certification is made, it shall be the duty of the Township
Secretary to notify, within 30 days, every property owner of the assessment
which has been made, in accordance with the Acts of Assembly in such case
made and provided.
Said assessments shall bear interest at the rate of 6% per annum beginning
30 days after the assessment has been made, until paid.
In the event that an assessment remains unpaid for a period of five
months after the date of the completion of the said municipal improvement,
the Township Secretary shall immediately forward the same to the Township
Solicitor, who shall file a municipal lien against the property benefited,
in accordance with the Acts of Assembly in such case made and provided.
After such municipal lien has been duly filed in the office of the Prothonotary,
in addition to the payment of the principal and interest as aforesaid, a penalty
of 5% of the principal amount, together with all costs, shall be paid before
the said municipal lien shall be marked "satisfied" of record.