[HISTORY: Adopted by the Municipal Council
of the Municipality of Norristown as indicated in article histories.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 11-20-2007 by Ord. No. 07-17]
The Council of the Municipality of Norristown
hereby establishes a Master Schedule of Fees which shall identify
and delineate the charges imposed by the Municipality of Norristown
for the issuance of any license or permit, the provision of any service
by the Municipality, or the conduct of any inspection by any department
of the Municipality of Norristown, which same permit fees, license
fees, service fees or inspection fees have been previously established
by ordinances or resolutions of the Municipal Council.
The Municipality hereby establishes the Master
Fee Schedule and may, from time to time, by resolution, establish
all fees and amend such as deemed necessary and appropriate by the
Municipal Council.
Any and all ordinances, parts of ordinances,
resolutions or parts of resolutions in conflict with the terms, conditions
and provisions of this Master Fee Schedule Chapter are hereby repealed
to the extent of such conflict. It is the intent of Municipal Council
that any and all other provisions of any municipal ordinance or resolution
establishing a fee for any service delineated under Exhibit A to this
chapter[1] is hereby expressly repealed and declared to be of no
further force or effect.
[1]
Editor's Note: Exhibit A and the most recent
fees resolutions are on file in the municipal offices.
[Adopted 3-3-2009 by Ord. No. 09-03]
A fee in the amount of $40, together with all costs incurred
in mailing a notice of delinquency pursuant to 53 P.S. § 7106
shall be added to the unpaid claim.
Interest will be assessed at a rate of 10% per annum and added
to the unpaid claim. For unpaid municipal claims, interest will accrue
from the date of delinquency. For unpaid taxes, interest will accrue
from the date that the lien is filed with the Prothonotary of Montgomery
County.
A.
The Municipality hereby approves the following fee schedule to compensate
its attorneys for the collection of unpaid claims, which fees shall
be added to the unpaid claim.
|
Legal Services
|
Fee For Services
| |
|---|---|---|
|
Initial review and send first demand letter
|
$100
| |
|
File lien
|
$250
| |
|
Prepare writ of scire facias
|
$250
| |
|
Reissue writ
|
$30
| |
|
Prepare and mail letter under Pa. R.C.P. 237.1
|
$30
| |
|
Prepare motion for alternate service
|
$175
| |
|
Prepare default judgment
|
$175
| |
|
Prepare writ of execution
|
$800
| |
|
Attendance at sale; review schedule of distribution and resolve
distribution issues
|
$400
| |
|
Continue sheriff sale
|
$50
| |
|
Petition to assess damages
|
$50
| |
|
Petition for free and clear sale
|
$400
| |
|
Prepare bankruptcy proof of claim
|
$100
| |
|
Handling fee for returned check
|
$25
| |
|
Handling fee to issue refund check
|
$15
| |
|
Bookkeeping fee for payment plan up to three months
|
$25
| |
|
Bookkeeping fee for payment plan longer than three months
|
$50
| |
|
Services not covered above
|
At an hourly rate between $60 and $225 per hour
|
B.
The amount of fees determined as set forth above are fair and reasonable
for the services to be provided and shall be added to the Municipality's
claim in each account.
C.
There shall be added to the above amounts the reasonable out-of-pocket
charges, costs, expenses, commissions and fees, such as, but not limited
to, postage, title searches, prothonotary fees and sheriff fees.
D.
The amount of charges, expenses, commissions and fees determined
as set forth above shall be added to the Municipality's claim
in each account.
The following collection procedures are hereby established in
accordance with the Act:
A.
At least 30 days prior to assessing or imposing attorneys' fees
in connection with the collection of an account, the Municipality
or its designee shall mail or cause to be mailed, by certified mail,
return receipt requested, a notice of such intention to the taxpayer
or other entity liable for the account (the property owner).
B.
If the certified mail notice is undelivered, then, at least 10 days
prior to assessing or imposing such attorneys' fees, the Municipality
or its designee shall mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail,
a second notice to the property owner.
C.
All notices required by this article shall be mailed to the property
owner's last known post office address as recorded in the records
or other information of the Municipality or such other address as
it may be able to obtain from the County Office of Assessment and
Revision of Taxes.
D.
Each notice as described above shall include the following:
(1)
The type of tax or other charge, the date it became due and the amount
owed, including penalty and interest;
(2)
A statement of the Municipality's intent to impose or assess
attorneys' fees within 30 days after the mailing of the first
notice or within 10 days after the mailing of the second notice;
(3)
The manner in which the assessment or imposition of attorneys'
fees may be avoided by payment of the account; and
(4)
The place of payment for accounts and the name and telephone number
of the Municipality's representative designated as responsible
for collection matters.
The Municipality may appoint one or more law firms, collection
services and/or collection agencies to collect delinquent municipal
claims and hereby authorizes any appointed collector to sign any and
all documents, including tax and municipal claims, on behalf of the
Municipality. Any attorney acting in the capacity of delinquent municipal
claims collector shall, for the limited purpose of signing municipal
claims and liens as required by the Pennsylvania Municipal Claims
and Tax Liens Act, 53 P.S. §§ 7144 and 7183, as amended,
be designated as the "solicitor" for such purpose. The Municipality
shall enter into a separate agreement with all delinquent municipal
claims collectors setting forth the terms of collection between the
Municipality and the collector.
The proper officials of the Municipality are hereby authorized
and empowered to take such additional action as they may deem necessary
or appropriate to implement this article.
