Residents say mailed tax checks went missing as council moves to appoint temporary collector

Residents at the New Britain special meeting on April 20 raised immediate concerns that mailed tax payments addressed to the resigning tax collector had not been credited and that taxpayers could lose the early-payment discount.

Dawn Morrisiani, a resident who spoke during public comment, asked directly: "What I was wondering is the checks were made out to miss Ronke. What happens when they're just coming in now made out to her?" The solicitor and borough staff said they are coordinating with the county tax-claim bureau and the borough's bank to reconcile payments and to ensure any available surety or borough access covers missing funds.

The solicitor explained the banking arrangement and the practical steps: "The bank account is actually the borough's employee ID, and the way the bank account reads is, you know, Elizabeth Ronke, tax collector for the borough of New Britain. Now it it won't change to Nicole's name, but the borough had no problem accessing the money." He said the county will run audits "as of April 15, and also as of the end of this month," and added that the council may request a county extension of the discount period if audits show residents were affected by later billing or misapplied checks.

Residents also urged broader notification. Jackie Dietericks said she would have preferred a mailed postcard to learn of the meeting and the temporary change in collection arrangements. Council members and staff discussed costs and legal limits on what payment information can be published; they agreed to post controlled notices and to have staff hand-deliver or post a sign at the former tax collector's office indicating where to deliver payments.

Officials asked residents to contact borough administration directly with proof of mailed payments so staff can prioritize reconciliations. The council and solicitor said they will report results after the county audit and are prepared to meet again if needed.