[Adopted 5-12-1997 by Ord. No. 497, approved 5-12-1997 (Ch. 48, Art.
I, of the 1977 Code)]
The Borough hereby approves the statement of
collection policies for delinquent unpaid taxes, user charges and
other items covered by the Municipal Claims Act (Accounts), as presented
to this meeting, and which is to be filed with the enacted counterpart
of this article.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
A. The Borough hereby
approves the following schedule of attorney fees for services in connection
with the collection of accounts, which is hereby determined to be
fair and reasonable compensation for the services set forth below,
all in accordance with the principles set forth in Section 3(a.1)
of the Municipal Claims Law as added by Act No. 1 of 1996 (the Act):
Legal Services
|
Fees for Services
|
---|
Initial review and sending of first demand letter
|
$100
|
File lien and mailing of lien
|
$200
|
Services not covered above
|
Billed at Solicitor’s regular hourly rate
|
B. There shall be
added to the above amounts the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of
counsel in connection with each of these services, as itemized in
the applicable counsel bills, which shall be deemed to be part of
the fees.
C. The amount of
fees determined as set forth above shall be added to the Borough's
claim in each account.
The following collection procedures are hereby
established in accordance with Act No. 1 of 1996:
A. At least 30 days
prior to assessing or imposing attorney fees in connection with the
collection of an account, the Borough shall mail or cause to be mailed,
by certified mail, return receipt requested, a notice of such intention
to the taxpayer or other entity liable for the account (the account
debtor).
B. At least 10 days
prior to the assessing or imposing of such attorney fees, the Borough
shall mail or cause to be mailed, by first-class mail, a second notice
to such account debtor.
C. All notices required
by this article shall be mailed to the account debtor's last known
post office address as recorded in the records or other information
of the Borough or such other address as it may be able to obtain from
the Borough Office of Assessment and Revision of Taxes.
D. Each notice as
described above shall include the following:
(1) The type of
tax or other charge, the date it became due and the amount owed, including
penalty and interest.
(2) A statement
of the Borough's intent to impose or assess attorney fees within 30
days after the mailing of the first notice or within 10 days after
the mailing of the second notice.
(3) The manner
in which the assessment or imposition of attorney fees may be avoided
by payment of the account.
(4) The place
of payment for accounts and the name and telephone number of the Borough
official designated as responsible for collection matters.
The proper officials of the Borough are hereby
authorized and empowered to take such additional action as they may
deem necessary or appropriate to implement this article.