[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Buffalo 2-22-1994, effective 3-7-1994. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
The City Charter, Section 113, provides that all unpaid accounts
be turned over to the City Comptroller for collection with the assistance
of the Corporation Counsel. The intent of this chapter is to codify
procedures and responsibility in the area of collections. These procedures
shall be enforced by the City Comptroller under his authority granted
by the City Charter. The Comptroller shall also make available an
annual report detailing the operations under this chapter and any
recommendations for changes in the legislation to better facilitate
the collection operation.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
All receivables due and owing to or billed by any City board,
division, agency or department, except the Parking Violations Bureau
and Administrative Adjudication Bureau, unpaid over 90 days from the
date of billing or the date originally due, whichever occurs first.
[Amended 6-25-1996, effective 7-9-1996]
All billings, including but not limited to property taxes,
water bills, sewer rent charges, demolition costs, parking tickets
and other billings issued by any City department or agency.
A.
Each City agency or department which creates a receivable shall promptly
refer all arrears to the Comptroller's Division of Collections
in a manner prescribed by the Division of Collections.
B.
The Division of Collections shall perform necessary collection and
billing of said arrears accounts with the assistance of the Department
of Law as required.
C.
The Comptroller may engage the services of private credit or collection
agencies and other professional services, as required, in accordance
with the General Municipal Law and the Charter.
D.
The Comptroller will prepare an annual report detailing the moneys
and fees collected and expended.
E.
Fees. The Comptroller shall impose fees or charges in connection with the collection of arrears as provided for by Chapter 175 of this Code, and any and all fees collected upon arrears pursuant to Chapter 175 shall be accounted for separately. All amounts shall be deposited to the City general fund.
No person, individual, corporation or other entity shall be
permitted to contract with, be licensed or permitted by or do business
with the City of Buffalo, its departments, boards or agencies without
official certification by the Division of Collections that all outstanding
obligations or arrears owed to the City, its departments, boards or
agencies are paid in full or otherwise have made arrangement for payment
in full to the satisfaction of the Comptroller. This section shall
not be deemed to require payment of any obligation prior to the last
day such obligation is due without penalty or interest or prior to
the expiration of any application grace period.
