[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Lock Haven as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 2-6-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-01]
The following collection procedures are hereby established:
A. 
At least 30 days prior to assessing or imposing attorney fees in connection with the collection of a delinquent account or other cost, fee, or indebtedness for which a municipal claim may be entered, the City shall mail or cause to be mailed, in accordance with statute, a notice of such intention to the owner of record established by current real estate tax records (the "debtor").
B. 
All notices required by the article shall be mailed in accordance with statute to the debtor's last known post office address as recorded in the Tax Assessment Office of Clinton County, Pennsylvania.
C. 
Each notice as described above shall include the following:
(1) 
The amount of the claim, including penalty and interest;
(2) 
A statement of the City's intent to impose or assess attorney fees within 30 days after the mailing of the notice in accordance with Subsection A;
(3) 
The manner in which the assessment or imposition of attorney fees may be avoided by payment of the amount due; and
(4) 
The place of payment for amounts due and the name and telephone number of the City official designated as responsible for collection matters.
A. 
The City hereby approves the following schedule of attorney fees for services in connection with the collection of a delinquent account or other cost, fee, or indebtedness for which a municipal claim may be entered, 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 53 P.S. § 7106(a.1):
Legal Services
Fee for Services
Collection letter by certified mail, examination of courthouse records and deed
$75
Collection letter by ordinary mail
$25
Municipal claim
$60
Praecipe for writ of scire facias sur municipal claim and writ of scire facias sur municipal claim
$60
Notice of default judgment and transmittal letter
$50
Praecipe to dismiss claim
$10
Execution proceedings for sale of real estate (uncontested)
$350
Hourly rate
$130/hour
B. 
There shall be added to the above amounts 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 City's claim in each case.
The proper officials of the City are hereby authorized and empowered to take such additional action as they may deem necessary or appropriate to implement this article.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent with this article are hereby repealed insofar as they are in conflict with this article.
If any section, clause, sentence, or provision of this article shall be adjudged invalid, such adjudication shall not affect the validity of the article as a whole or of any other part or portion of the article not so adjudged invalid.