There may be “a new sheriff” in the township.

The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners is considering a well-known legal firm to collect delinquent township utilities services fees.

Commissioners were told at the Aug. 26 township meeting workshop that as many as 120 property owners may owe approximately $403,000 in unpaid fees for township water and sewer and refuse services.

The township administration is recommending the hiring of Portnoff Law Associates, Ltd. to collect outstanding water and sewer and refuse bills from township property owners.

Salisbury Township Finance Director Paul Ziegenfus said, ”We talked about this topic a year ago. We thought maybe it wasn’t a good idea to send people to collection during COVID.

“Water shut-offs seem to be the most effective collection,” Ziegenfus said.

“But not actually. If it’s a vacant property, they don’t care,” Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich said.

Ziegenfus said the township finance office has worked out payment plans, whereby a property owner who is in arrears can pay 50 percent of the outstanding bill and then pay the remainder in portions.

Ziegenfus said 140 property owners in the township who are two billing quarters past-due owe a combined total of $403,000.

One property owner alone owes $22,000, Ziegenfus told a reporter for The Press after the workshop.

“It’s unfair to others in the township. This money the township could do something with,” board of commissioners’ President Debra Brinton said.

“I think they [Portnoff] have a good process,” Bonaskiewich said.

Portnoff has a seven-step process, summarized here as follows:

Step 1 is a notice of delinquent claim and fee shifting, which costs $40 plus postage. The fee is paid by the property owner who must be notified at least 30 days before assessing legal fees in connection with collecting a delinquent municipal claim.

The township must enact an ordinance adopting a schedule of fees to be assessed.

Step 2 is a review of claims and issuance of a legal demand letter against the delinquent property owner, which costs $175 and is paid for by the property owner.

Step 3 is the issuance of a lien against the delinquent property owner, which costs $250, also paid by the property owner.

Step 4 is a legal fee assessed against the delinquent property owner, which costs $250, paid by the property owner.

Step 5 is notice of intent to file judgment against the delinquent property owner, which costs the property owner $50.

Step 6 is a legal fee assessed gainst the delinquent property owner, which costs $175.

Step 7 is a sheriff sale, with the legal fee assessed against the delinquent property owner costing $800.

Portnoff handles telephone and written inquiries, negotiates payment plans, administers a hardship program, handles payments and maintains records of communication, which are available to the township.

In other business at the Aug. 26 meeting, board of commissioners Vice President Rodney Conn asked Ziegenfus, “Do you have a projection of how we’ll [Salisbury Township] end the year?”

“The first budget draft will have that,” Ziegenfus replied.

Ziegenfus expects to present the first draft of the 2022 Salisbury Township budget at the Sept. 23 township meeting workshop.

“I feel it’s going to be positive, but I’m not sure, Zigenfus said concerning the 2021 year-end budget report.

In other business. Bonaskiewich said the township administration received a request for a donation to Meals on Wheels. “We do typically contribute to organizations,” Bonaskiewich said.

Commissioner Alok Patnaik relayed a resident’s concern about township equipment parked at a road construction site. “We moved the equipment down the street a little bit,” Salisbury Township Director of Public Works Jim Levernier said.

Bonaskiewich announced the free outdoor “Township Movie Night” screening of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Raya and the Last Dragon,” canceled Aug. 13 because of inclement weather, will be held 7:15 p.m. Sept. 17 in Franko Farm Park, 1301 Black River Road. Attendees are to bring blankets and chairs. Children must be accompanied by an adult. No alcoholic beverages are allowed.

Also, Bonaskiewich said a free concert by AM Radio, a tribute band, will be held 4-7 p.m. Sept. 5 at Franko Farm Park.

The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners’ next scheduled meeting is 7 p.m. Sept. 9, in the municipal building meeting room, 2900 S. Pike Ave.