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Comptroller flags unapproved water/sewer rebates, suggests changes to pool operations and payment methods
Summary
The comptroller reported Allentown is issuing water and sewer rebates without a current ordinance and identified operational and communication improvements for municipal pools, including payment options and concession management.
The city comptroller presented two audit reports: one on revenue and refunds and one on municipal pools.
On refunds and rebates, the comptroller reported Allentown is processing water and sewer rebates without an existing supporting ordinance. The comptroller said the annual budgetary impact of the program is small — roughly $5,000 per year — but called the lack of a legal ordinance "a pretty fundamental error" that should be corrected. The administration told auditors it would work with departments to draft an ordinance to formalize the practice.
On municipal pools, the audit identified several operational weaknesses: hiring and orientation could be improved to reach applicants who do not engage by standard business-hour processes; communication with seasonal staff should include bulk SMS reminders; concession inventory and food-safety practices need attention; there is no staff member with ServSafe certification; and point-of-sale systems are outdated (the pools do not accept Apple Pay). The comptroller suggested the city consider broader payment acceptance and the possibility of third-party concession contractors or food-truck contracts.
Councilmembers responded with support for reducing friction in customer payments and for improving outreach to applicants. One councilmember noted the potential budgetary trade-offs for accepting electronic payments (processing fees) while another suggested the administration continue exploring apps and SMS options to reach younger applicants.
No formal council action was taken on the audit reports; the administration indicated it would draft an ordinance for the rebates and consider audit recommendations for pool operations.
