Franklin City utility board weighs absorbing credit-card fees, reviews leak detection, project updates and a budget carryforward

At a March meeting of the Franklin City Water Utility Board, members discussed whether to stop passing third‑party credit‑card processing fees directly to customers and considered increased leak‑detection activity to address growing water loss. The board also received updates on the Lowers Lane water tower and related mains, heard a report on a major main break in Coventry, and approved a motion to carry forward $59,784.50 from the 2023 budget to the 2025 water utility budget for the purchase of a utility vehicle.

Why it matters: The board’s discussions could affect customer bills, operational workload and long‑term water loss, which staff reported has grown since 2016 and could draw attention from the state Public Service Commission.

Board members and staff focused first on fees customers pay when using the city’s online payment vendor, Invoice Cloud. Claudia (staff member) said Invoice Cloud charges customers a processing fee and “the city does not get that fee at all.” John Suganta Jr. (board member) clarified the arrangement, asking, “So the customer is paying that?” Claudia confirmed they are. Suganta…