[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Lancaster 7-5-2000 by Ord. No. 78. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
APPOINTED FIRE COMPANY
The Fire Company authorized by the Board of Supervisors to:
A. 
Provide and coordinate fire prevention and protections services and other public safety and emergency services within the Township;
B. 
Prevent, abate, control, cleanup and protect residents and their property from the hazards, effects, and the risks of harm associated with and resulting from fire and emergency situations occurring within the Township;
C. 
Provide immediate response, abatement, control and cleanup services and coordinate Township and supporting emergency service organizations efforts in response to the release or threat of release of any hazardous material within the Township; and
D. 
Such other duties as the Board of Supervisors may assign by ordinance or resolution.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, firm, association, public utility, trust, estate, public or private institution, group, commonwealth or local agency, political subdivision, and any legal successor, representative, or agency of the foregoing.
A. 
The Harmony Volunteer Fire Company is hereby designated as the appointed Fire Company for Lancaster Township.
B. 
The appointed Fire Company is hereby authorized to collect fees and costs for the purpose of reimbursing the Fire Company for the costs of providing fire prevention and protection services and other public safety and emergency services within the Township.
C. 
The fees and costs collected by the appointed Fire Company are to be used solely for the purpose of providing revenue to help defray the Fire Company's costs of providing fire prevention and protection services and other public safety and emergency services within the Township.
Any person who owns property, real or personal, situated or located in the Township and for which the appointed Fire Company and/or supporting emergency service organizations provide fire prevention and protection services or other public safety and emergency services shall be liable for the response costs incurred the Fire Company and supporting emergency service organizations.
A. 
The appointed Fire Company is hereby authorized to recover the response costs incurred by the Fire Company and supporting emergency service organizations associated with providing fire prevention and protection services and other public safety and emergency services provided by the Fire Company within the Township. Such fees, as established by resolution of the Board of Supervisors, may include and encompass all manpower, equipment, materials, maintenance and overhead expenses, costs, fees and charges incurred in providing such services within the Township.
B. 
Within 30 days of the date of providing such services, the Fire Company shall submit an itemized invoice for all response costs incurred by the Fire Company and supporting emergency service organizations to the owner of the property affected or the property owner's designated agent or representative.
C. 
All such invoices shall be paid in full within 60 days of receipt thereof, and interest shall accumulate thereafter on any unpaid balances at the rate of 10% per annum until paid.
D. 
In addition, any bills, fines or penalties, including, but not limited to, cleanup costs, fees or expenses that are imposed upon the Fire Company by local, state or federal agencies and related to the same situation or occurrence for which the Fire Company provided services may be included in the initial billing or may be billed separately within 30 days of receipt by the Fire Company and shall be paid and accrue interest as provided in Subsection C, above.
E. 
The Fire Company shall allocate and distribute such funds paid to the Fire Company to the Fire Company and supporting emergency service organizations within 30 days of receipt.
A. 
The Fire Company shall present to the Board of Supervisors, for approval and adoption, a fee schedule based on the approved Fire Company budget.
B. 
The fee schedule shall be based on the actual costs of providing fire prevention and protection services and other public safety and emergency services within the Township. The fee schedule shall include manpower, equipment, materials, maintenance and overhead expenses in such a form as to ensure proper charges for services rendered.
C. 
The fee schedule shall be effective after its adoption in the form of a resolution.
D. 
The Fire Company may propose modifications, changes or additions to the fee schedule by presenting the proposed modifications, changes or additions to the Board of Supervisors for approval.
E. 
The Fire Company shall present for the Board of Supervisors review, an annual report detailing the Fire Company's annual income and expenditures, including, but not limited to, funds received from and spent on providing fire prevention and protection services and other public safety and emergency services within the Township.
The appointed Fire Company may enforce the provisions of this chapter, at its own expense, by bringing a civil action in law or equity before a court of competent jurisdiction for the collection of any amounts due hereunder, plus operational, administrative, personnel and legal costs incurred from the initial response action up to the time that such costs are recovered
If a final decision of a court of competent jurisdiction holds any provision, sentence, clause, section, or part of this chapter to be illegal or unconstitutional, such determination shall not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions, sentences, clauses, sections or parts of this chapter which shall remain in full force and effect. It is hereby declared as the intent of the Township that the provisions, sentences, clauses, sections or parts of this chapter shall be severable and that this chapter would have been adopted if any such illegal or unconstitutional provision, sentence, clause, section, or part had not been included.