[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township
of Muhlenberg 3-17-2014 by Ord. No. 531. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as the "Township of Muhlenberg Municipal
Delinquent Accounts Collection Agency Costs Ordinance."
A.
The Township hereby approves the following schedule of agency fees
for services in connection with the collection of delinquent accounts,
which is hereby determined to be fair and reasonable compensation
for the services of such an agency.
B.
The amount of fees determined as set forth above shall be added to
the Township's claim in each account.
The following collection procedures are hereby established to
be the policy of the Township:
A.
At least 30 days prior to assessing or imposing agency fees in connection
with the collection of a delinquent account, the Township shall mail
or cause to be mailed, by first class mail, postage prepaid, a notice
of such intention to the delinquent account party or other entity
liable for the account (the "account debtor").
B.
All notices required by this chapter 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 or elsewhere.
C.
Each notice as described above shall include the following:
(1)
The type of 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 agency
fees within 30 days after the mailing of the notice;
(3)
The manner in which the assessment of imposition of agency fees may
be avoided by payment of the account; and
(4)
The place of payment for accounts and the name and telephone number
of the Township official designated as responsible for collection
matters.
The proper officials of the Township are hereby authorized and
empowered to take such additional action as they may deem necessary
or appropriate to implement this chapter.
The provisions of this chapter shall be severable, and if any
provision hereof shall be held to be unconstitutional, invalid or
illegal, by any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall
not affect the validity of any of the remaining provisions of this
chapter.
This chapter shall become effective immediately upon enactment
or, if later, upon the earliest date permitted by law.