Catasauqua has $189,000 in delinquent water, sewer and garbage fees

November 08, 2012|By Douglas Graves, Special to The Morning Call

Catasauqua Borough has amassed about $189,000 in delinquent water, sewer and garbage bills.

That's according to borough manager Eugene Goldfeder .

Goldfeder told council on Monday that $90,000 of that amount was due to late water and sewer payments. But he expects 75 percent of that to be paid after delinquency letters are sent out.

Goldfeder said the borough has more clout power to collect back water and sewer bills because it can shut off water if accounts aren't paid.

The garbage fees are more of a problem because the borough can't let garbage pile up.

The borough can refer delinquent garbage fees to the district magistrate, but Goldfeder said it's a long and expensive process.

He said the magistrate can order a constable to seize personal property and sell it to pay the garbage bill. Property such as televisions, furniture, and similar property can be taken to pay for the bills, which are usually less than a thousand dollars.

Goldfeder said the borough has used a constable to seize property three times to pay for delinquent garbage fees.

Douglas Graves is a freelance writer.

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