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HomeMy Public PortalAbout12-27-2018 Minutes WSAC Regular Meeting-Draft Utilities Analyst Julie Laws 101 E. Orange St., PO Box 429, Hillsborough, NC 27278 919-296-9630 | julie.laws@hillsboroughnc.gov www.hillsboroughnc.gov | @HillsboroughGov Water and Sewer Advisory Committee Minutes | 1 of 1 Minutes Water and Sewer Advisory Committee 4 p.m. December 27, 2018 Town Annex Board Conference Room, 105 E. Corbin St. MEMBERS PRESENT: Dan Barker, Arthur Sprinczeles, Jenn Sykes, Saru Salvi, Daniel Rawlins, Barry Hupp MEMBERS ABSENT (excused): Jim Parker, Volker Mittendorf STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Julie Laws, Daphna Schwartz (via phone) 1. Call to Order Meeting was called to order by Dan Barker at 4:00 p.m. 2. Continuation of Credit Card Fee Discussion from December 5, 2018 (with Daphna Schwartz) Dan asked Daphna to give pros and cons of customers paying the fees and surcharges. Daphna stated that the pro is that customers utilizing credit cards will be the ones paying the fees. The con to burying the fee in the regular rate would distribute the fees to all customers, not just those paying by credit. Processing fees will be charged to us, certain fees will be one-to-one. If we bury fees, they won’t be all covered. Paying via ACH carries no fee. Also, a person paying by debit card in person cannot legally be charged a fee, although we get charged a fee for taking these payments. The preferred method for avoiding fees would be ACH or debit card in person. A customer paying by debit card online gets charged. A customer paying by credit card gets charged whether in person or online. Dan asked about setting up recurring payments by credit or debit, and Daphna says they’ll get charged also. Daniel asked about fees for checks and cash, but Daphna stated there are no fees here. If it’s a recurring payment, is charge showing on bill? Daphna was not sure if this charge would show up on bills with Tyler and will ask them about this. Dan explained that a person telling their bank to pay us is essentially a check., i.e. debit or ACH. Dan asked what the fee should be. We can charge a flat rate, not a fee based on percentage of the bill. County charges $2.50 per transaction, no matter the amount of the bill. Jenn and Daniel feel the people who use credit cards can afford fees and won’t change behaviors in order to save the fees. Dan asked about charging fees that would come close to the cost of fees, and Jenn, Daniel, and Barry agreed we should try to do so. Water and Sewer Advisory Committee Minutes | 2 of 2 Dan asked what fees we’re paying to accept these customer payments. Daphna says they are different for in- person and online. Convenience fee is around $1.35-$2.50 depending on in-town and out-of-town. Jenn did some quick calculations and said we can get to over half of cost recovery at $2.50. Barry feels people won’t mind paying for the convenience, but not the highest fee ($4.00). Barry moved to assess a $2.50 fee, seconded by Dan. Daniel and Saru against $2.50 as out-of-town customers. Dan stated that we would revisit in May by looking at rate structure, and by assessing how the fee change is perceived by customers. Barry suggested training staff to answer questions. Dan moved to set a 2 % surcharge for in-person payments; approved by all but Saru. Dan wants to revisit reporting in April or May. Daphna was asked to have staff take notes on how people in person are paying now and if it changes when fees are implemented. Will they start paying cash instead or credit? Daphna will take recommendations to board in January meeting. Jenn moved to adjourn at 4:50 PM, seconded by Saru. 3. Adjournment Jenn moved to adjourn at 4:50 PM, seconded by Saru.