(A)
In the event a check, credit card payment, debit card payment, or an ACH withdrawal payment is received by the town from any person, party, or other entity and is returned to the town due to insufficient funds or for other reasons from a bank, credit union, or other institution or entity, the appropriate officer, employee, and/or agent of the town is hereby authorized to require the issuer to pay for the utility user fee, permit, license, parking ticket or for any sum authorized by ordinance by requiring payment in cash, money order, or by cashier’s check.
(B) In the event the same person, party, and/or entity writes and/or issues a second or subsequent check, credit card payment, debit card payment, or an ACH withdrawal payment as payment for those services, utility user fees, permits, licenses, parking tickets and violations covered by the ordinances of the town and by this section, and the check, credit card payment, debit card payment, or ACH withdrawal payment is returned to the town due to insufficient funds in the issuer’s account or for other reasons by a bank, lending institution, credit union, or other entity, the appropriate officer, employee and/or agent of the town is hereby authorized to require the issuer to pay for services, utility user fees, permits, licenses, parking tickets and other charges authorized and/or imposed by the ordinances of the town either in cash, money order, or by certified check for a period of two years. After a two-year waiting period, the issuer will be allowed to write checks, use credit and debit cards, and reestablish the use of ACH withdrawal. However, if the town receives a third returned check, return credit card payment, returned debit card payment and/or returned ACH withdrawal, the customer will no longer be able to write a personal check, use a credit or debit card or auto-withdrawal for the duration of their service through the Town of Cicero.
(C) In addition to the foregoing, the appropriate officers, employees, and agents of the town who are empowered by ordinance or by state statute to receive the fees from members of the public for the services described in this section are hereby authorized to charge a $20 processing fee to the issuer of a check, credit card payment, debit card payment, or an ACH withdrawal payment that is returned for insufficient funds.
(D) In addition to the remedies and procedures provided in this section, the town and its officers, employees, agents and departments are hereby empowered and authorized to utilize any and all other legal remedies available to it under the laws of the state in the collection and prosecution of any person, party, or other legal entity who issue checks, credit card payments, debit card payments, or ACH withdrawal payments to the town for whatever reasons which are returned to the town for insufficient funds.
(Res. 07-18-2000, passed 7-18-00; Am. Res. 12-20-2005-1, passed 12-20-05; Am. Res. 05-08-2019-1, passed 5-8-19)