Late fees on a utility bill have one Jim Thorpe Borough resident calling for a change of protocol on the timing of payment.

Joan Morykin, a West Broadway resident, told council Thursday night she braved a driving rain and ice storm to get her utility bill to the post office so it could be postmarked on the day it was due, but was still assessed a late fee.

Borough officials, meanwhile, said its policy is that bills need to be in the borough office on the day they are due or in the borough drop box outside the office on the due date.

“It was a day that the borough had closed early because of the weather and I walked a mile-and-a-half to the post office to get it postmarked on the due date,” Morykin said. “The utility bills only say pay by due date. It doesn’t say it must be received on or before.”

While Morykin asked the governing body to refund her late fees, to no avail, Borough Manager Maureen Sterner said the wording on the bills hasn’t created an issue for the vast majority of residents.

“In my time here, we’ve had only one other complaint,” Sterner said. “The bills clearly state they need to be in the office by the 15th or in the drop box on the evening of the 15th.”

Councilwoman Jessica Crowley said she has heard from other residents who feel they are automatically being charged late fees. Crowley said she’s in favor of changing wording on bills to take away any confusion over whether having bill payments postmarked on the due date is sufficient to avoid extra costs.

“I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t want to make something more simple for our residents,” she said.

The borough, Council President Greg Strubinger said, has made strides to make paying bills more convenient for its residents over the years. Residents can now pay bills online, at local banks, or even have the money automatically taken out of their bank accounts via ACH payment.

“I pay everything through the bank or on my credit card to get the points,” Councilman Bob Schaninger said. “Why wouldn’t you want it taken it out through the bank and not have to worry about it.”

Congressman Steve Cohen introduced the Postmark Payment Act in several different legislative sessions. Had it been enacted, it would have required that any payment of a bill or invoice, if sent by U.S. mail, be considered sent on the date its envelope was postmarked.

“I was aware of the bill, but it never became law that I’m aware of,” Jim Thorpe Solicitor James Nanovic said.