East Deer lays out steps for delinquent service payments

Employees and customers of East Deer’s water department are getting firm regulations to follow when it comes to delinquent payments.

Commissioners approved a formal policy regarding such payments, not only for water bills but also for refuse collection and sewer maintenance payments.

“It’s just a policy that (township Manager) Chrystal (Carmen) and the police have to follow to keep us from getting behind and having a lot of overdue bills,” said Commissioner Rick Stoneburner, finance chairman.

Asked how bad delinquencies have become, he replied, “Not bad, but there were times it would get out of control.”

He said the policy provides clarity for everyone on how the process works.

“We didn’t have any structure to follow,” Stoneburner said. “Now, this gives our employees a structure to follow.”

For water delinquents, that structure works this way:

• Customers receive a notice for the first month of delinquency.

• For the second month of delinquency, a delinquent customer will receive a notice hung on their door with 24-hour contact instruction to make payment arrangements and a seven-day deadline to pay.

• If a customer still fails to make payment, their water will be shut off by water department employees and full payment will be required to restore service.

When it comes to delinquent refuse and sewer payments, the process is similar for the first two steps.

Delinquent customers will receive a notice in the first month of delinquency. For the second month, a notice will be hung on the customer’s door with 24-hour contact instructions to make payment and a seven-day deadline to pay.

What is different is, if payment still is not made, a certified letter will be sent to the customer informing them that a complaint will be filed with the district justice. It also will inform the delinquent customer that they will be responsible for paying any filing and court costs.