[Ord. 2012-02, 4/19/2012]
1. The Township shall engage the Agency for the purpose
of collecting delinquent Accounts.
2. The engagement of the Agency shall be confirmed by
a written agreement and the agreement shall be approved by the Township
Solicitor and by a resolution of the Township Board of Commissioners.
3. If sewer rentals and charges are not paid in full within 60 calendar days after the same become due and payable, said Account, in addition to incurring the late charges and interest set forth in §
18-1110, Subsection
4, of the Code of Ordinances of the Township, shall be deemed "delinquent."
4. Schedule of Fees. The Township approves and adopts
the following schedule of agency fees for services in connection with
the collection of accounts, which is hereby determined to be fair
and reasonable compensation for the services of such Agency:
A. The Township fee schedule was established by Res.
2011-30. Fees shall be assessed and posted in accordance with the
schedule as set forth therein.
B. The amount of fees determined as set forth above shall
be added to the Township's claim in each account.
C. The schedule of fees may be modified from time to
time by resolution of the Board of Commissioners.
5. Collection Procedures. The following collection procedures
are hereby established to be the policy of the Township:
A. Accounts may be assigned by the Township Manager or
his designee to agency on the 61st day of the delinquency.
B. Between the 61st and 100th day of delinquency, the
agency shall make reasonable efforts at collecting the account, including:
(1)
Contacting the delinquent account holder by
telephone.
(2)
Contacting the delinquent account holder by
mail.
(3)
Using the water turnoff procedures as established by Ord. 2011-08 [§
18-1111].
C. The agency shall accept offers by Account holders
to establish payment plans to satisfy outstanding balances if the
outstanding balance exceeds $300; however, if the nature of the delinquent
account involves a municipal "claim" as defined by the Act, no payment
plan shall exceed six months from the date that the service giving
rise to the claim occurred as the Act imposes a six-month statute
of limitations on municipal "claims." In the event that there is a
question as to whether the account is subject to this six-month statute
of limitations, the agency shall consult with the Township Solicitor
to insure that the statute of limitations does not expire.
D. At the discretion of the Township, the Agency may
be authorized to file any or all liens that may be required.
E. Any agency fees assessed in accordance with the foregoing
fee schedule shall be forwarded to the Agency in accordance with the
term of the Township's written agreement with the Agency.
F. All collection procedures shall be reviewed and approved
by the Township Solicitor prior to implementation.
6. The Township Secretary shall immediately notify the
Agency upon receipt of all: (A) petitions or "proof of claims" for
bankruptcy that concern a delinquent account; and (B) notices of Sheriff
sale, judicial sale, or tax sale that concern a delinquent account.