by KYW's David Madden
The ongoing battle between the city of Chester (Delaware County), Pa. and a number of its residents is headed to federal court.
The resident are being billed for delinquent trash fees dating back more than a decade (see related story). Now, a lawsuit has been filed seeking to stop the city from trying to collect those long-overdue trash fees.
City officials have conceded that there was a computer problem that allowed the issue to go unnoticed for so many years, and an amnesty program was set up that waives fines and penalties for some who have been billed.
But that’s not good enough for Darrell Jones, whose name tops the list of plaintiffs on the legal paperwork:
"Because of their incompetence, because of their ignorance, and because of their arrogance. We’re taxpayers. We’ve lived here. I’m a lifelong resident, and I think I should have been treated better."
The suit seeks to have the current city trash ordinance declared unconstitutional and the fee collection effort stopped -- or at least establish a process so residents can appeal the bills being sent out.
A hearing is scheduled at the end of the month. City officials, who are seeking to recover more than $3 million still due, have declined comment on the lawsuit.
(File photo)
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