[Adopted 10-16-2017 by Ord. No. 567 (Ch. 160, Art. VI, of the 1990 Code)]
[Amended 7-17-2023 by Ord. No. 601]
The Township appoints Michelle R. Portnoff, Esquire, as special Solicitor and alternative Tax Collector, 53 P.S. § 7101, for the limited purpose of collecting the unpaid claims and hereby authorizes her, and all attorneys employed by Portnoff Law Associates, Ltd., to sign any and all documents, including municipal claims and liens, on behalf of the Township.
In accordance with the MCTLA and RETSL, interest shall be charged on taxes so returned from and after but not before the first day of the month following the return. Interest shall be charged at the rate of 9% per annum.
[Amended 7-17-2023 by Ord. No. 601]
A. 
The attorney fees and collection fees set forth below are hereby adopted, approved and determined to be reasonable, including, without limitation, as contemplated by § 7106 of the Act. The attorney fees and collection fees set forth below shall be included and added to the applicable MCTLA Unpaid Claim in an amount equal to the amount set forth in this Subsection A(1).
(1) 
Attorney fees.
Initial review and sending first legal demand letter
$175
File lien and prepare satisfaction
$250
Prepare writ of scire facias
$250
Prepare and mail letter under Pa. R.C.P. 237.1
$50
Prepare default judgment
$175
Research, prepare and obtain reissued writ
$175
Prepare praecipe to amend
$100
Prepare motion to amend
$150
Prepare motion for alternate service
$250
Prepare motion to consolidate claims
$250
Amend claim to add United States as defendant
$250
Prepare writ of execution
$800
Preparation for Sheriff's sale; review schedule of distribution and resolve distribution issues
$400
Prepare motion to continue Sheriff's sale
$50
Prepare petition for free and clear sale
$400
Preparation and service of subpoena
$100
Presentation of motion or petition
$50
Services not covered above
At an hourly rate between $75 to $275 per hour
(2) 
Collection fees.
Validation notice
$25 per notice
Notice of delinquent claim and fee shifting
$40 per notice, plus applicable postage
Bookkeeping fee for payment plan of 3 months or less
$25
Bookkeeping fee for payment plan of more than 3 months
$50
Handling fee for returned check
$25
(3) 
In addition to the collection fees set forth under Subsection A(2) above, the amount of out- of-pocket charges, costs, expenses, commissions and fees incurred in connection with the filing, preservation and collection of the MCTLA unpaid claims, including, but not limited to, prothonotary fees and charges, Sheriff fees and charges, postage expenses, title search expenses, vehicle identification number (VIN) search expenses, skip tracing and/or other investigatory service expenses, and the costs, fees, charges and/or expenses arising out of any payment by any credit card, debit card or any other payment medium, are hereby approved and shall be included, upon incurrence, together with the applicable MCTLA unpaid claim.
B. 
Interest. Interest will be assessed upon the unpaid claims at a rate of 10% per annum and added to the unpaid claims. The Township is permitted to waive any interest on any unpaid claim when the Township or any attorney and/or third-party collector collecting the unpaid claim believes, in its discretion, that such amount is de minimis or that the cost or burden of continuing collection outweighs the benefit of collecting the interest.
The proper officials of Upper Providence Township are hereby authorized and empowered to take such additional action as they may deem necessary or appropriate to implement this article.
If any section, clause, provision or portion of this article shall be held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect any other section, clause, provision or portion of this article so long as it remains legally enforceable minus the invalid portion. Upper Providence Township reserves the right to amend this article or any portion thereof from time to time as it shall deem advisable in the best interest of the promotion of the purposes and intent of this article, and the effective administration thereof.