(a) The following fees are based upon a reasonable estimate of the per incident costs to the Fire Division and City of Norwood for responses to motor vehicle incidents, given the degree and nature of the response required for each incident as listed in the fee schedule. This is an add on cost of the claim for damages of the vehicles, property and/or injuries. The fees shall be charged and billed, as follows:
(1) To the insurance carrier or to the responsible party or parties.
(2) To the owner of the motor vehicle for which spills or debris around the vehicle are cleaned up, fires are extinguished, or the site of the accident around the vehicle is secured.
(3) To the person being treated, attended to, or rescued by the fire department personnel, or the person who may be responsible for such person being treated or rescued, provided such rescue is necessitated by a motor vehicle accident or emergency.
(b) That effective January 1, 2004 the level of service and user fees will be as follows:
LEVEL OF SERVICE | FEES |
(1) Scene safety and investigation | $435.00 |
(2) Scene safety, investigation, clean-up, fire extinguishment and minor extrication | $675.00 |
(3) Scene safety, investigation, clean-up and major extrication | $1800.00 |
(4) Scene safety, investigation, clean-up extrication and Air Care Helicopter | $2100.00 |
(c) This section shall be made effective retroactively to January 1, 2004. No person or entity shall be billed retroactive to the passage date of this section. This section does not set aside, dismiss or forgive any debt owed as a result of prior billing made to a person or entity as a result of losses to the City in responding to motor vehicle accident scenes occurring prior to the passage date of this section.
(d) The fees prescribed by this section shall be collected by the Treasurer’s Office and deposited in a fund for Fire Department fixed assets by the Auditor’s Office. Upon presentment of an affidavit of indigency and proof of indigency which satisfies the Chief of the Fire Division of an affiant’s inability to pay the aforementioned fees, such fees may be waived by the Chief of the Fire Division.
(e) The Safety-Service Director shall have the authority to adjust the fees on an annual basis, based on actual increased costs to the City of Norwood in responding to motor vehicle accidents. The Safety-Service Director shall have the authority to adjust the fees by increasing or decreasing them by no more than ten percent (10%) each year. The Safety-Service Director shall adjust the fees during the month of January each calendar year. If the Safety-Service Director believes the actual costs to the City in responding to motor vehicle accidents have increased or decreased by more than ten percent (10%) in a given year, he shall so advise Council in writing of the fact and request that Council approve a greater increase or decrease by ordinance.
(Ord. 35-2005. Passed 10-25-05.)