[HISTORY: Derived from the Revised General Ordinances of the Borough
of Fort Lee, 1978, adopted 3-1-1979, as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Derived from Ch. 13A of the 1978 Code]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
- BOROUGH
- The Borough of Fort Lee in the County of Bergen and State of New Jersey.
- BOROUGH COUNCIL
- The Mayor and Council of the Borough of Fort Lee.
- INSURED PERSON
- All parties having an interest in the real estate affected by fire damage and all parties insured under the terms and provisions of the fire insurance coverage of the property damaged.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 17:36-8 et seq.
No insurance company authorized to issue fire insurance policies in
the State of New Jersey shall pay any claims in excess $2,500 on any real
property located within the borough unless or until either:
A.
The insured person submits an official certificate of
search for municipal liens pursuant to N.J.S.A. 54:5-12, certifying that all
taxes, assessments or other municipal liens or charges, levied and assessed
and due and payable to the borough against the property have been paid; or
Any insurance company authorized to issue fire insurance policies in
the State of New Jersey on real properties located within the borough be and
is hereby prohibited from paying to a claimant any claim in excess of $2,500
for fire damages on any real property located within the borough pursuant
to any fire insurance policy issued or renewed after the final adoption of
this article and after the filing of this article with the New Jersey State
Commissioner of Insurance, until such time as either:
A.
All taxes and assessments and all other municipal liens or charges due and payable to the borough appearing on the official certificate of search shall have been paid either by the owner of such real property or by the insurance company pursuant to the provisions of § 254-4 of this article and Section 3 of the Act; or
Unless a resolution is received in accordance with § 254-5 of this article and in accordance with Section 4 of the Act by an insurance company writing fire insurance policies on real property within the borough, such insurance company be and is hereby authorized and required, prior to the payment of any claims for fire damages in excess of $2,500, to pay the borough the amount of the liens appearing on the official certificate and such other recorded liens or related charges as may be certified to the insurance company; provided, however, that if an appeal is taken on the amount of any lien or charge, other than an appeal on the assessed valuation of real property pursuant to N.J.S.A. 54:3-21, the insurance company shall withhold 75% of the full amount of the lien or charge being contested pending termination of all proceedings, at which time such moneys and all interest accruing thereon at a rate paid on interest bearing accounts in banking institutions or savings and loan associations in this state shall be disbursed in accordance with the final order or judgment of the court.
Where the fire-damaged real property is located in the borough, the Borough Council may enter into an agreement with the owner of any fire-damaged property whereby the owner agrees to pay in full all delinquent taxes, assessments or other municipal liens by installments pursuant to N.J.S.A. 54:5-19 or for the redemption of the tax sale lien by installment payments pursuant to Article 7 of Chapter 5 of Title 54 of the Revised Statutes,[1] if the Borough Council is satisfied that the claim for fire damages
is to be used to restore or improve the fire-damaged property. An insurance
company receiving a certified copy of a resolution of agreement by the Borough
Council is authorized to make full payment on the claim to the insured person.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 54:5-65 et seq.
A borough claim made in accordance with the provisions of the Act and
the provisions of this article shall be paramount to any other claims on the
proceeds of the fire insurance policy except the claim of a holder of a mortgage
on the fire-damaged property, where the fire insurance policy at the time
of the loss listed the mortgagee as a named insured, in which event the claim
of the mortgagee to the proceeds shall be paramount to the municipal lien
under this article only to the extent of the amount due and payable to the
mortgagee under the mortgage contract.
Nothing in this article shall be construed:
A.
To obligate an insurance company for any amount in excess
of the value of the fire insurance policy on the property, or the amount of
the liability of the insurance company hereunder;
B.
Except as provided in the case of appeals under § 254-4 of this article, to obligate the insurance company for any liens not appearing on the official certificate or any certified changes submitted by the bonded official; or
C.
To effect the authority of the borough to enforce its
municipal lien under any other law of the State of New Jersey.
The official certificate of search may from time to time be altered
by the bonded official responsible for preparing such certificate, in order
to correct any errors or omissions or to add any municipal liens or related
charges due and payable subsequent to the preparation of the official certificate.
This article shall be filed with the New Jersey State Commissioner of
Insurance pursuant to the provisions of the Act.
