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Council approves limited utility payment plans; broader plan for all customers fails
Summary
The St. Martinville City Council authorized payment plans for customers with remaining balances from a terminated levelized program and for customers with leak-related bills over $300, while a councilmember's substitute motion to allow payment plans for all customers failed.
The council voted on Nov. 18 to authorize the City Attorney to prepare a payment-plan contract that would allow two specific groups to participate: customers with remaining balances following termination of the city's levelized utility billing program, and customers whose bills resulted from water leaks that caused charges over $300. The council directed that a monthly report of outstanding payment plans be provided to the council.
Councilmember Mike Fuselier’s motion to authorize targeted payment plans was adopted; Councilmember Flo Chatman offered a substitute motion to allow payment plans for all customers, but that substitute failed for lack of a second. When the primary motion was voted, the minutes record Yeas from Mike Fuselier, Carol Frederick, Janise Anthony, and Jonas Fontenette; Nay: Flo Chatman.
The minutes do not specify the exact contract language, the timeline for implementation, or whether the program would apply retroactively to past balances beyond those described. The City Attorney was tasked with drafting the contract and the council requested monthly reporting on outstanding payment plans.
