PORT ALLEGANY — The Port Allegany Borough Council has approved an application for MuniciPAY, which would allow residents to pay their water and sewer bills with credit cards.

Borough Manager Bob Veilleux proposed to the council using MuniciPAY during his manager’s report, given during the Tuesday meeting. Approved by the council, the feature should be up and running in time for the July billing cycle, borough officials said.

Also discussed was the amendment to the water rate ordinance regarding shut-off of service.

“Currently, the state ordinance only allows us to turn off sewer lines if payments are late,” Veilleux said. “This amendment would allow us to turn off the water line if payments are late as well. This gives us a way to enforce the payments.”

In the engineer’s report, the Chestnut Spring storm sewer was brought up. Discussed was the possibility of doing an in-depth study of the drainage system that begins at the Chestnut Spring, located near the intersection of Ann Street and Catlin Avenue. This study was proposed to be done to determine the steps needed to take to eliminate the intermittent flooding on Main Street as well as a few other streets.

The study is estimated to cost $13,000.

Council members decided that at this time it is not worth doing the study when they would be unable to act on what the study revealed. They are taking it into future consideration and are thinking about including it in next year’s budget.

Members also mentioned that an opening exists on the council.   

The borough’s next council meeting is at 7:30 p.m. July 3.