[Ord. 2002-1, 1/7/2002, § 1]
The Township Tax Collector is designated and appointed as a
Delinquent Tax Collector for Hopewell Township.
[Ord. 2002-1, 1/7/2002, § 2]
Said Hopewell Township Tax Collector shall have the same powers,
rights, privileges, duties and obligations as set forth in § 686
of the Act of March 10, 1949, P.L. 30, No. 14, known as the "Public
School Code of 1949," 24 Pa.C.S.A. § 6-686.
[Ord. 1998-2, 4/2/1998, § 1; as amended by Ord.
2002-3, 3/7/2002, § 1; by Ord. 2006-6, 5/4/2006, § 1;
and by Ord. 2016-1, 1/4/2016]
Hopewell Township hereby appoints the duly elected or appointed
Tax Collector of the Township and any Deputy Tax Collector duly appointed
as permitted by law as the Township Officer authorized to provide
real estate tax certifications upon request by the public, and further
authorizes said Tax Collector and any Deputy Tax Collector duly appointed
as permitted by law to assess, collect and retain as compensation
for such additional services a fee in an amount as established from
time to time, by resolution of the Board of Supervisors per certification.
In the event that the requestor of any tax certification seeks to
have the certification provided in 24 hours or less from the time
of the request, the fee shall be in an amount as established from
time to time, by resolution of the Board of Supervisors per certification.
[Ord. 1998-2, 4/2/1998, § 2; as amended by Ord.
2006-6, 5/4/2006, § 2; and by Ord. 2016-1, 1/4/2016]
Hopewell Township hereby authorizes the duly elected or appointed
Tax Collector, and any Deputy Tax Collector duly appointed as permitted
by law, of and for the Township, to provide, upon request and/or authorization
of the property owner, duplicate real estate bills and receipts, and
to charge a fee in an amount as established from time to time, by
resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
[Ord. 1998-2, 4/2/1998, § 3; as amended by Ord.
2016-1, 1/4/2016]
Hopewell Township hereby authorizes the duly elected or Appointed
Tax Collector of and for the Township, and any Deputy Tax Collector
duly appointed as permitted by law, to charge a service charge in
an amount as established from time to time, by resolution of the Board
of Supervisors for each check which is returned to the Tax Collector
because it is uncollectable for lack of sufficient funds in the account,
or for any other reason. Such amount shall be paid to the Tax Collector
by the issuer of said check at the time the funds owed or represented
by said check are paid. It is intended that the service charge authorized
by this section shall be and is the same amount authorized to be charged
pursuant to the Crimes Code relating to bad checks, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 4105(e)(3).
In the event that section of the Crimes Code is amended, this section
shall automatically be amended to modify the service charge to be
the same as found in that section. To the extent that any action is
required by the Board of Supervisors of Hopewell Township ("Board")
to modify or amend any services charges authorized by this section,
said changes are hereby authorized to be made by resolution of the
Board from time to time.
[Ord. 1998-2, 4/2/1998, § 4; as amended by Ord.
2016-1, 1/4/2016]
The Township shall be and hereby is authorized to charge a service
charge in an amount as established from time to time, by resolution
of the Board of Supervisors for each check which is returned to the
Township because it is uncollectable for lack of sufficient funds
in the drawer's account, or for any other reason. Such amount shall
be paid to the Township by the issuer of said check at the time the
funds owed or represented by said check are paid. It is intended that
the service charge authorized by this Part shall be and is the same
amount authorized to be charged pursuant to the Crimes Code relating
to bad checks, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 4105(e)(3). In the event that
section of the Crimes Code is amended, this Part shall automatically
be amended to modify the service charge to be the same as found in
that section. To the extent that any action is required by the Board
of Supervisors of Hopewell Township ("Board") to modify or amend any
services charges authorized by this section, said changes are hereby
authorized to be made by resolution of the Board from time to time.
[Ord. 1998-2, 4/2/1998, § 5]
It is the policy of the Township to collect delinquent unpaid
taxes, user charges, and other items covered by the Municipal Claims
Act, 53 P.S. § 7101 et seq. ("Account") and, as one option
in collecting such taxes, to pursue collection of such accounts through
the Municipal Claims Act, and to collect such charges in conjunction
with such collection as are permitted by law.
[Ord. 1998-2, 4/2/1998, § 6; as amended by Ord.
2008-13, 9/4/2008, § 1]
1.
The Township 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 § 3(a.1) of the Municipal Claims Act as added by
Act No. 1 of 1996 (the "Act"), 53 P.S. § 7103:
|
Legal Services
|
Fee For Services
| |
|---|---|---|
|
Initial review and sending first demand letter
|
$66
| |
|
File lien and mailing second demand letter
|
$88
| |
|
Prepare Writ of Scire Facias
|
$55
| |
|
Obtain Re-issued Writ
|
$33
| |
|
Prepare and mail letter under Pa.R.C.P. § 237.1
|
$22
| |
|
Prepare Motion for Alternate Service
|
$77
| |
|
Prepare Motion for Summary Judgement and Related Judgement
|
$110
| |
|
Prepare Writ Execution
|
$44
| |
|
Attendance at Sale; Review Schedule of Distribution and Resolve
Distribution Issues
|
$275
| |
|
Services not covered above
|
Hourly amount equal to Solicitor's regular charges to Township.
|
2.
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.
3.
The amount of fees determined as set forth above shall be added to
the Township's claim in each account.
[Ord. 1998-2, 4/2/1998, § 7]
1.
The following collection procedures are hereby established in accordance
with Act. No. 1:
A.
At least 30 days prior to assessing or imposing attorney fees in
connection with the collection of an account, the Township 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.
If within 30 days after mailing the notice in accordance with Subsection 1A, the certified mail to any account debtor is refused or unclaimed or the return receipt is not received, then at least 10 days prior to the assessing or imposing such attorneys fees, the Township shall mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail, a second notice to such account debtor.
C.
All notices required by this Part shall be mailed to the account
debtor's last known post office address as recorded in the records
or other information of the Township, or such other address as it
may be able to obtain from the County 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 Township'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 Township official designated as responsible for collection
matters.
[Ord. 1998-2, 4/2/1998, § 8]
The Tax Collector or Township Secretary or other designated
official of the Township is hereby authorized and empowered to take
such additional action as they may deem necessary or appropriate to
implement this Part.
