Any responsible party receiving a bill for Emergency Services pursuant to this chapter may appeal all charges or any portion of the charges according to the following procedures.
(A) A responsible party may file a written protest of any portion or all of the charges assessed to the party by filing such protest with the Clayton Township Clerk’s office within 30 days of the date of the invoice received by the responsible party. Any protest or challenge to the emergency services charges must state specific reasons that the charges are improper and the specific relief requested.
(B) The Clayton Township Clerk shall notify the Clayton Township Police Chief or the Swartz Creek Area Fire Chief and schedule a meeting with the appealing party and the Police Chief and/or the Fire Chief within 14 days of receipt of the written protest. The Police Chief and/or the Fire Chief shall notify the appealing party in writing of his/her decision on the appeal of the charges within 14 days of the meeting.
(C) If, after meeting with the Police Chief and/or the Fire Chief, the appeal is not resolved, the appealing party shall have the right to have the appeal placed on the agenda of the Clayton Township Board of Trustees next regularly scheduled meeting. The request for a meeting of the appealing party and the Clayton Township Board shall be made in writing within 14 days of the date of the Police Chief and/or Fire Chiefs written decision.
(D) When hearing the appeal, the Clayton Township Board of Trustees shall consider the following factors:
(1) The degree to which the imposition of assessable costs presents a unique situation unlikely to be repeated;
(2) Whether granting the appeal would do harm to the intent and purpose of this chapter;
(3) Whether the service provided was given as the result of false information or false alarm not caused by the party to whom the services were provided;
(4) Whether the charges comply with the Clayton Township schedule of charges or whether the apportionment of said charges is incorrect or inappropriate in any manner;
(5) Whether the responsible party is subject to paying the Clayton Township ad valorem public safety millage;
(6) Whether the assessment of emergency services charges will cause undue hardship to the responsible party; and
(7) Good cause with sufficient proof to satisfy the Clayton Township Board.
(E) The Clayton Township Board may extend the time period in which the payment of assessed emergency services fees are due for a reasonable period of time not to exceed 1 year.
(F) Failure to file a timely written request pursuant to the above time periods shall constitute a waiver by the responsible party of any right to request relief for any assessed charges and shall constitute an agreement to pay the charges in full.
(Ord. 442, passed 3-21-2013)