The Gadsden City Council adopted a seven-year agreement with Paymentus Corporation to provide paper billing and electronic payment processing for city utility and garbage accounts.

The agreement, presented by a councilmember during new business, promises free paper billing while allowing customers to pay online, by ACH or e-check, or at kiosks the vendor will place at major retail locations. "It's going to save the city about $30,000 a year and dramatically improve our services for our citizens," the councilmember said.

Council members said the Revenue Department pursued the change after the city's previous vendor notified officials that its price would triple. Under the Paymentus arrangement, the vendor will supply the paper-billing service at no direct charge to the city and will collect any credit-card convenience fees from customers who choose to pay by card. The vendor also will provide kiosks in retail locations such as Walmart and CVS Pharmacy to accept payments.

The council voted to suspend the rules to consider the item under new business and then voted to adopt the resolution. The clerk called for voice votes and recorded the motion as carrying. Specific mover and second were not identified on the record, and no roll-call tally by name was given in the meeting transcript.

The council's action authorizes the Revenue Department to implement the contract; further administrative steps and timelines were not specified during the discussion.