This chapter may be known and cited as the "Emergency Electric
Grant Assistance Program Ordinance" of the Borough of Lansdale.
The purpose of this chapter is to establish an Emergency Electric
Grant Assistance Program that may be activated by Borough Council
in its sole and absolute discretion when an emergency disaster has
been declared for the Borough of Lansdale in order to provide assistance
to eligible households who are Borough residents and customers of
the Lansdale Borough Electric Utility System in order to meet home
electric needs.
The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall
have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise:
APPLICANT
The individual or person who files an application for a grant
under the EEGAP on behalf of the applicant and the applicant's household.
BOROUGH EMERGENCY DISASTER DECLARATION
Any proclamation of disaster emergency issued by the Borough
or its elected officials pursuant to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management
Services Code, 35 Pa.C.S.A. § 7101 et seq., including any
corresponding ratification or extension of said proclamation.
DATE OF APPLICATION
The date that a completed application is filed with the Borough
or designated EEGAP administrator.
EEGAP
The Lansdale Borough Emergency Electric Grant Assistance
Program.
EEGAP ADMINISTRATOR
The Borough Manager, Borough Finance Director or their designee
who is responsible for the administration of this chapter, including
the processing, award, and appeals of EEGAP grant applications. Borough
Council may by resolution appoint a third-party administrator to perform
all or some of the administrative duties, in which case said third-party
administrator shall be the EEGAP Administrator to the extent of their
duties for purposes of this chapter.
HOUSEHOLD
An individual or group of individuals, including related
roomers, who are living together as one economic unit that customarily
pays for its home heating energy either directly to a vendor or indirectly
as an undesignated part of rent.
RESIDENT
A person whose home is in the Borough and who lives there
voluntarily and not temporarily for a reason such as vacation, a visit
or education.
RESIDENTIAL ELECTRIC BILL
The bill issued by the Lansdale Borough Electric Department
for the use and consumption of electricity.
ROOMER
An individual whose payment for lodging in a room includes
electric and may include a private bathroom or one of the following:
board; or kitchen or bathroom privileges on a shared basis; or light
housekeeping facilities.
All EEGAP grants will be paid in the form of a payment made
by the Borough to the Borough Electric Department on behalf of the
eligible applicant and applicant's household. No payments will be
made directly to any applicant or to any other utility provider or
to any third party.
Unless otherwise required by law, information about an EEGAP
applicant or recipient is confidential and will be considered a record(s)
or information relating to a request for social services that may
be disclosed for only the following purposes:
A. To aid in the determination of EEGAP eligibility.
B. To aid in the investigation or prosecution of suspected fraud in
connection with this chapter and an EEGAP application or award.
C. To cooperate with federal or state authorities regarding EEGAP audits,
reviews and investigations or as may be required as part of any audit
of Borough funds.
D. If an applicant agrees, the EEGAP Administrator may disclose that
information about the applicant or recipient household that is needed
to help the household apply for or obtain financial assistance under
this chapter.
The Borough assures that no person on the basis of race, color,
sex, age, handicap, religion, national origin or ancestry or political
belief will be excluded from participation in the EEGAP, denied EEGAP
grants or be subject to discrimination in an activity or project receiving
EEGAP financial assistance.
The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed as establishing
any right or entitlement to an EEGAP grant, and the decision whether
to activate or authorize an EEGAP shall be entirely at the discretion
of Borough Council.