[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Steelton 10-15-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-3, approved 10-17-2018.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This chapter was originally specified to be added as Chapter 59 but was renumbered to maintain the organization of the Code.
A. 
No insurance company, association or exchange (hereinafter "insurer") doing business in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shall pay a claim of a named insured for fire damage to a structure located within the Borough where the amount recoverable for the fire loss to the structure under all policies exceeds $7,500, unless the insurer is furnished by the Borough Tax Collector with a certificate pursuant to Section 508(b) of the Insurance Company Law of 1921,[1] as amended by Act 98 of 1992 and Act 93 of 1994 (collectively, the "Act"), and unless there is compliance with the procedures set forth in 508(c) and (d) of the Act.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 40 P.S. § 638(b).
B. 
Delinquent taxes or assessments.
(1) 
Where there are delinquent taxes, assessments, penalties or user charges against the property ("municipal claims"), or there are expenses which the Borough has incurred as a cost for the removal, repair or securing of a building or other structure on the property (collectively "municipal expenses"), the Tax Collector of the Borough shall immediately render a bill for such work, if he/she has not already done so. Upon written request of the named insured specifying the tax description of the property, the name and address of the insurer and the date of receipt by the insurer of a loss report of the claim, the Tax Collector shall furnish a certificate within 14 working days after the request, to the insurer, a certificate (or at his/her discretion an oral notice confirmed in writing) either:
(a) 
Stating that there are no unpaid municipal claims or municipal expenses against the property.
(b) 
Specifying the nature and amount of such claims or expenses, accompanied by a bill for such amounts.
(2) 
Taxes, assessments, penalties and user charges shall be deemed delinquent for this purpose if a lien could have been filed for such claims under applicable law. Upon receipt of a certificate and bill pursuant to Subsection B(1)(a) of this section, the insurer shall transfer to the Tax Collector an amount from the insurance proceeds sufficient to pay such sums prior to making payment to the named insured, subject to the provisions of Subsection C hereof.
C. 
When all municipal claims and municipal expenses have been paid pursuant to Subsection B of this section, or where the Tax Collector has issued a certificate described in Subsection B(1)(a) indicating that there are no municipal claims or municipal expenses against the property, the insurer shall pay the claim of the named insured; provided, however, that if the loss agreed upon by the named insured and the insurer equals or exceeds 60% of the aggregate limits of liability on all fire policies covering the building or structure, the following procedures must be followed:
(1) 
The insurer shall transfer from the insurance proceeds to the Borough Manager, in the aggregate, $2,000 for each $15,000 of such claim or fraction thereof.
(2) 
If at the time a loss report is submitted by the insured, such insured has submitted to the insurer, with a copy to the Borough Manager, a contractor's signed estimate of the cost of removing, repairing or securing the building or other structure in an amount less than the amount calculated under the foregoing transfer formula, the insurer shall transfer to the Borough Manager from the insurance proceeds the amount specified in the estimate. If there is more than one insurer, the transfer of proceeds shall be on a pro rata basis by all insurers insuring the building or other structure.
(3) 
Upon receipt of the above described portion of the insurance proceeds, the Borough Manager shall do the following:
(a) 
Place the proceeds in a separate fund to be used solely as security against the total municipal expenses anticipated by the Borough to be required in removing, repairing or securing the building or structure as required by this Chapter 57. Such costs shall include, without limitation, any engineering, legal or administrative costs incurred by the Borough in connection with such removal, repair or securing or any proceedings related thereto.
(b) 
Mail to the named insured, at the address received from the insurer, a notice the proceeds have been received by the Borough and that the procedures under this subsection shall be followed.
(c) 
After the transfer, the named insured may submit to the Borough a contractor's signed estimate of the cost of removing, repairing or securing the building or other structure, in which event the Borough Manager shall, if such estimate is deemed by the Borough Manager to be reasonable, return to the insured the amount of the funds transferred to the Borough in excess of that required to pay the municipal expenses; provided, the Borough has not commenced to remove, repair or secure the building or other structure, in which case the Borough will complete the work.
(d) 
Pay to the Treasurer, for reimbursement to the Borough general fund, the amount of the municipal expenses paid by the Borough.
(e) 
Pay the remaining balance in the fund (without interest) to the named insured upon receipt of a certificate issued by the Borough Manager that the repair, removal or securing of the building or other structure has been completed in accordance with all applicable codes and regulations of the Borough.
(f) 
Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the ability of the Borough to recover any deficiency in the amount of municipal claims or municipal expenses recovered pursuant to this Chapter 57, or to insurance proceeds, by an action at law or in equity to enforce the codes of the Borough or to enter into an agreement with the named insured with regard to such other disposition of the proceeds as the Borough may deem responsible.
Nothing in this Chapter 57 shall be construed to make an insurance company, association or exchange liable for any amount in excess of proceeds payable under its insurance policy or for any other act performed pursuant to this Chapter 57 or to make this Borough, any Borough official, a municipality or public official an insured under a policy of insurance or to create an obligation to pay delinquent property taxes or unpaid removal liens or expenses other than as provided in this Chapter 57.
An insurance company, association or exchange making payment of policy proceeds under this Chapter 57 for delinquent taxes or structure removal liens or removal expenses incurred by the Borough shall have a full benefit of such payment including all rights of subrogation and of assignment.
This Chapter 57 shall be liberally construed to accomplish its purpose to deter the commission of arson and related crimes, to discourage the abandonment of property and to prevent urban blight and deterioration.
The Borough Council of the Borough of Steelton may by resolution adopt procedures and regulations to implement Act 98 of 1992[1] and this chapter and may by resolution fix reasonable fees to be charged for municipal activities or services provided pursuant to Act 98 of 1992 and this chapter; including, but not limited to, issuance of certificates and bills, performance of inspections and opening separate fund accounts.
[1]
Editor's Note: Editor's Note: See 40 P.S. § 638.
The Secretary of the Borough shall transmit a certified copy of this Chapter 57 promptly to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
Any owner of property, any named insured or insurer who violates the provisions of this Chapter 57 or who shall fail to comply with any of the requirements hereof shall be sentenced, upon conviction thereof, to a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 30 days. Each day on which an offense shall continue shall be deemed a separate offense.