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Cranford reviews credit-card fees; draft ordinance to set framework for surcharges
Summary
Township staff reported about $70,000 annually in card-transaction fees. The Committee discussed proposed Ordinance No. 2026-11 to create a framework for credit-card and ACH payments and Resolution No. 2026-183 to set a parking-specific fee schedule.
Township Business Administrator and CFO Lavona Patterson told the Committee on April 21 that Cranford spends approximately $70,000 a year on credit-card transaction fees. The Committee discussed two related proposals: Ordinance No. 2026-11, which staff described as a framework to authorize certain debit/credit card and ACH payments, and Resolution No. 2026-183, which would set the specific fee for parking meters, permit fees and parking tickets.
Township Attorney Thomas Slattery explained that the ordinance would establish the legal framework for assessing transaction fees and that the resolution would apply fees specifically to parking-related transactions. The Committee discussed the proposals but did not adopt either ordinance or resolution at the workshop; additional time and review were requested.
If adopted in future meetings the ordinance would permit the Township to pass on transaction costs for certain payment types in a manner consistent with state law and local policy; staff said parking fees would be defined in the separate resolution.
