[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Chadds Ford 6-11-2025 by Ord. No. 182. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as the " Emergency Services Reimbursement Ordinance."
A. 
Authority. The Township has the authority to make rules and regulations for the government of fire companies within the Township pursuant to Section 1803(b) of the Pennsylvania Second Class, 53 P. S. § 66803(b).
B. 
Findings. The Township recognizes that the duties of volunteer fire companies require specialized emergency rescue tools and equipment, emergency rescue materials, hazardous material abatement equipment and hazardous abatement materials during emergency responses. The Township further recognizes that such tools and equipment place a financial burden on volunteer fire companies and the replacement of such materials and specialized training add to the additional financial burden for volunteer fire companies.
C. 
Purpose. This chapter is intended to grant fire companies operating with the Township the authority to seek reimbursement for the reasonable costs of responding to incidents within their service areas, either directly or in coordination with the Township.
A. 
The Township hereby authorizes fire companies serving the Township to recover reasonable costs of emergency rescue tools, equipment and materials; hazardous material abatement tools, equipment and materials; and personal hours involving any hazardous material, environmental, fire safety and/ or rescue incident or operation, including vehicular accidents that occur in the Township.
B. 
A fire company servicing the Township or its authorized third-party billing service may recover the reasonable costs outlined in § 68-3A above.
C. 
A fire company servicing the Township or its authorized third-party billing service shall only have the authority to recover the aforementioned costs from an applicable insurance/indemnity company or companies, and only up to the limit of the applicable policy.
D. 
The reimbursement rates for the aforementioned tools, equipment and materials shall be set by the fire company from time to time and shall only be applied to the recovery of costs arising out of incidents that occurred subsequent to the setting of the rates. A copy of the approved rates shall be on file with the Township.
E. 
In addition to the aforementioned reasonable costs, a fire company servicing the Township or its third -party billing service shall be authorized to collect reasonable interest as well as a reasonable administrative fee for collecting same, and any and all additional fees as may be authorized by the Hazardous Material and Emergency Planning Response Act, 35 P. S. § 6022. 101, et seq., or any other applicable law or regulation.
F. 
Any attempt by any fire company performing services in the Township or any third-party billing agency acting on such fire company's behalf to recover costs from any individual or entity other than the appropriate insurance/indemnity company or companies shall result in the immediate revocation of the authority to recover such costs granted under this chapter.
A. 
The Township shall not be responsible for any aspect of the recovery of costs under this chapter. The Township shall not take any steps to assist the Fire Department or any third-party billing service in recovery of costs under this chapter.
B. 
The Township shall not be responsible to reimburse any Fire Company for any services rendered to the Township or Township personnel while on duty.
This chapter shall take effect immediately after its adoption by the Chadds Ford Township Board of Supervisors.