Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Administration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City staff propose ending acceptance of USPS postmarks as proof of timely payment
Summary
Staff told council that USPS now processes and postmarks mail at regional centers and postmarks no longer reliably indicate when a payment was mailed; staff proposed requiring payments be received by close of business on the due date with extensive public education and a possible 3–6 month grace period.
Billing and collections staff told the council that changes at the U.S. Postal Service mean postmarks are no longer a reliable indicator of when a payment was mailed, and proposed a city policy requiring payments to be received by the close of business on the due date rather than accepting a postmark as proof of timeliness.
The staff member explained that mail dropped in a local box is processed and postmarked at a regional center one to several days later, and envelopes sometimes arrive without any postmark. "What we're proposing is to do away with accepting postmarks, to move to payments have to be received by close of business on the due date," the staff member said, and recommended an extensive outreach plan (bill inserts, postcards, social media and coordination with Barre Town) plus a 3–6 month soft/educational period. Councilors asked about alternatives and protections (drop boxes, online ACH, direct debit incentives); staff noted an ACH/e‑check option is available (small e‑check fee) and that direct debit enrollment allows the city to pull funds on the due date with no fee to the payer.
