[Adopted 10-21-2015 by Ord. No. 10-21-2015]
The volunteer fire companies are authorized and directed by
and through their officers and authorized representatives to ascertain
what insurance coverage may be applicable and available under any
given circumstance and to take all necessary and affirmative steps
to apply for and receive reimbursement from any insurance carrier
where an individual, property owner or business owner is or may be
insured to reimburse the volunteer fire companies for any costs and/or
expenses incurred for materials, supplies and/or equipment used for
or provided to the individual, property owner or business owner by
the volunteer fire companies.
Scott Township further authorizes the volunteer fire companies
to recover the reasonable response costs involved in any and all hazardous
material abatement incidents as are recoverable under the Hazardous
Material Emergency Planning and Response Act. (See 35 P.S. § 6022.101
et seq.)
With the exception of response costs recoverable under the Hazardous
Material Emergency Planning and Response Act, under no circumstances
shall any individual, property owner or business owner receive a bill
from the volunteer fire companies for fire protection or other emergency
services provided by the volunteer fire companies.
This article shall be liberally construed to accomplish its
purposes to compensate and/or reimburse the volunteer fire companies
from insurance proceeds or costs and/or expenses incurred while providing
services pursuant to their duties for the volunteer fire companies.
The costs and fees shall be recovered directly by the volunteer
fire companies by direct billing or by an attorney, collection service
or agency contracted by the volunteer fire companies. In addition
to the costs and fees, the volunteer fire companies or any attorney
or collection service or agency contracted by the volunteer fire companies
shall be authorized to collect any reasonable interest and administration
fees for collecting the costs and fees.
In the event that any insurance carrier or person fails to pay
any bill or invoice within 30 days of the mailing or delivery of such
notice of charges, the volunteer fire companies or any attorney or
agency contracted by the volunteer fire companies who mailed or delivered
the bill or invoice may enforce the provisions of this article by
filing a civil action at law in a court of competent jurisdiction
for the collection of any amounts due to the volunteer fire companies,
together with statutory interest, court costs, collection fees and
reasonable attorneys' fees.
The remedies provided herein shall be in addition to any other
relief, remedies or penalties that may be appropriate or provided
by law.