[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of
Richland as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 2-7-2005 by Ord. No. 292]
[Amended 11-28-2005 by Ord. No. 298]
The Police Department and the Richland Fire Department shall initiate
user fees for the delivery of police and fire services, personnel, supplies
and equipment to the scene of motor vehicle accidents, structural fires, or
emergency incidents. It is the specific intent of the Board of Supervisors
that the term “emergency incident” shall include, among other
types of recognized emergency incidents, the delivery of police and fire services,
personnel, supplies and equipment at the scene of hazardous material spills
as that term is generally recognized in police and fire services. The rates
of the user fees shall be that which is usual, customary and reasonable (UCR),
which include any services, personnel, supplies and equipment, and may fluctuate
based upon the needs of the accident, fire or emergency incident.
The user fees shall be filed to the motor vehicle insurance or commercial
or homeowners' insurance, representing an add-on cost of claims for damages
of the vehicles, property and/or injuries. The claim(s) shall be filed with
the insurance company of the owner of a vehicle, owner of property, lessee
or party responsible for the emergency incident(s).
The Richland Township Police Chief and the Richland Fire Department
Administration may make reasonable rules and regulations, from time to time,
and can amend, revoke or add such rules and regulations, not inconsistent
with the intent of this article, as each may determine necessary or expedient
for the respective department heads in regard to the billing and collection
of user fees authorized herein, including the use of independent private collection
agencies.
All amounts collected as a result of this article shall be placed in
two separate accounts: one for police user fees under the control of the Board
of Supervisors and one for fire user fees under the control of the duly elected
officers of the lire company, to be used exclusively for the personnel, supplies
and equipment of each respective department.
Annual reports, subject to audit at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors,
due by January 31 of the subsequent year, shall be rendered to the Board of
Supervisors setting forth, in detail, the revenues and expenditures attributed
to such accounts.
