(a) Upon the request of the board of directors, the state‘s attorney of the county in which a person who is liable for payment of maintenance charges resides shall file suit in the circuit court to collect the amount due. The court may order the payment of sums due for maintenance for a period or periods as the circumstances require. The order may be entered against any one or more defendants and may be based upon the proportionate ability of each defendant to contribute to the payment of sums due. Orders for the payment of money may be enforced by attachment as for contempt against the persons of the defendants and in addition as other judgments at law. Costs may be adjudged against the defendants and apportioned among them, but if the complaint is dismissed, the costs shall be borne by the township.
     (b) The Civil Practice Law applies to and governs all actions instituted under this Article.