This chapter shall be known as the "Municipal Claim Collection
Ordinance."
Hereinafter, for every delinquent claim, charge, tax, assessment,
levy or obligation owed to the Borough of Wilmerding, there shall
be added to such claim, charge, tax, assessment, levy or obligation
such attorneys' fees, charges and expenses incurred in the collection
process subsequent to proper notification to taxpayers of the intent
to impose attorneys' fees on delinquent obligations. Such additional
charges shall be collected in addition to such interest and penalties
as are allowed by law. They shall further be collected in the same
manner and with the full authority as other municipal claims of any
nature and shall be deemed to be a municipal claim and collective
and lienable as such.
Such fees shall be reasonable and the same are hereby established
in a fee rate as attached hereto and made a part hereof as Schedule
A. Said schedule of fees is hereby deemed to be reasonable,
fair and necessary in order to allow the Borough to collect such sums
due it. This schedule may be amended from time to time by simple resolution.
Any person or entity empowered to collect sums on behalf of
the Borough is directed to add such fees as are incurred to the extent
allowed and set forth on Schedule A.
Attorney fees incurred to the extent set forth on Schedule A
shall be added to all unpaid municipal claims of any nature arising
or imposed subsequent to April 15, 1996, or which become delinquent
or are redetermined to be delinquent subsequent to April 15, 1996.
Prior to the time when such fees are added to any underlying claim,
the Tax Collector shall first give the taxpayer such notice as required
by law. The Tax Collector or other collector shall so notify the taxpayer
by sending such notice to the taxpayer's last known address by
mailing notices in substantially the forms of notice as are attached
as Exhibits B and C in accordance with the statutes cited hereinabove.
Every collector of taxes or claims on behalf of the Borough
is directed and ordered to utilize the services of the Borough Solicitor
for all legal services required in the prosecution of all taxes or
other claims.