[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of Lacey as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
[Adopted 9-8-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-18]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings as indicated:
The Township of Lacey Fire Departments, namely, Forked River
Volunteer Fire Company, Lanoka Harbor Volunteer Fire Department and
Bamber Lakes Volunteer Fire Department.
A natural person or persons, partnership, corporation, association,
firm or other legal entity.
The Township Committee of the Township of Lacey authorizes the
Fire Departments or other authorized parties to recover the costs
associated with the use and/or expenditure of the following: fire-fighting
materials used and expended; the use of fire trucks, fire engines,
rescue equipment and tankers; the costs of personnel hours; and hazardous
situation abatement materials involved in any fire, safety and rescue
incident or operation and hazardous abatement incident, including
vehicular accidents and fires.
Attached hereto, incorporated herein and made a part hereof
as Exhibit A is a Schedule of Fees and Costs which have been authorized
by the Township Committee of the Township of Lacey to be charged by
the Fire Department. Said appendix is on file in the Municipal Clerk's
office.
Said costs and fees as outlined above in Exhibit A shall be
recovered directly by the Fire Departments by direct billing of the
Fire Department or shall be recovered by a professional agency engaged
in the business of emergency billing, provided that the agreement
with any such professional agency shall be subject to the approval
of the governing body. Said costs and charges shall be billed to the
insurance provider directly. Persons shall not be billed directly
for receiving fire services under this article unless billing guidelines
specifically provide otherwise.
A.
Structures.
(1)
Cost recovery. Billing will be processed for structure fires wherein
there is sufficient damage for the owner/tenant of the property to
file a claim with his/her insurance company. Examples of such structure
fires include but are not limited to fires to a dwelling, apartments
or apartment complexes, commercial or noncommercial buildings or outbuildings.
B.
Vehicles.
(1)
Billing will be processed for all vehicle fires and vehicle accidents
wherein the owner/insured/operator involved files a claim with his/her
insurance company. Billing shall also be processed for vehicle fires
in any vehicle holding yard or junkyard, regardless of insurance.
Invoices shall be sent directly to the owner of the property.
In addition to the aforementioned fees and costs, the Fire Departments
and any authorized professional agency engaged in emergency billing
are authorized to collect reasonable interest and administration fees
for collecting said fees and costs.
In the event that a person utilizing the services or materials
of the Fire Departments fails to make payment for those fees and services
directly to the Fire Departments or authorized professional agency
engaged in emergency billing, then, upon receipt of notice of failure
of payment, the governing body of the Township of Lacey may elect
to file an action in a court of competent jurisdiction for the collection
of any amounts due hereunder, including attorney's fees, or for
any other relief that may be appropriate.
