by KYW's Jim Melwert
The Chester, Pa. city council has voted to enact a policy to collect delinquent trash fees that could recoup as much as $3 million, leaving many city residents livid.
The fees are typically collected with the tax bill, but some delinquencies went unnoticed for over a decade.
The policy passed unanimously, despite some residents who were getting hot under the collar.
But councilwoman and director of accounts and finance Willie Wells says the problem seems to be that when taxes go delinquent, the Delaware County tax claim bureau works out a payment plan for the taxes but not for the fees like trash removal.
As for it why it took so long to catch the delinquencies:
"Limited staff, we're overworked with everything else we have to do. We had some problems with the computer, but we were able to get that straightened out."
Wells points out that 75 percent of Chester residents paid the trash bills.
Anyone over 65 who makes less than $15,000 a year can apply to have the payments waived. And anyone who signs up for a payment plan before August 14th will have late fees and interest on the late bills waived.
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