As roads slickened and trees whitened the evening of Jan. 21, Fountain Hill council member Norman Blatt fretted over the drive home and promised a short meeting before the streets got worse.

And he wasn't wrong. Mayor Jose Rosado and council member Helen Halleman were absent from the session, and members considered only a single item with discussion; the rest passing without much comment.

The main issue was one of property tax collection; always a concern for revenue in smaller municipalities. A possible change to the charges by Northeast Revenue Service from the current model to a "hybrid" model could mean more cash for the borough but unknown complications for delinquent taxpayers.

Borough Administrator Rick Prill and Blatt explained that in current deal, the borough retains 5 percent of each delinquent tax dollar collected, but in the hybrid version all the money collected would come to the borough and the collector – Northeast – would charge the taxpayer directly for the cost.

Blatt and Carolee Gifford voiced unease with the hybrid plan, as they couldn't tell in what manner and to what limit the collection agency might charge the resident, meaning collection costs could increase greatly, adding to delinquent taxpayers' burden. Council member Fred Capuano said either way, "People have to pay," but agree with his colleagues more information is needed.

Prill informed them there are currently 82 delinquent properties in the borough owing a total of $59,732, and the hybrid deal would – as an example – bring the borough about $3,000 more this year.

This year's tax decisions are already made however, and council will continue to discuss the possibility of changing to the hybrid option for next year. Blatt said they have until June to decide.

Prill, for his part, is retiring, and council voted to accept Anthony Branco as interim administrator.

Council member Douglass Trotter Jr. said, "I think Rick has done an outstanding job in the meetings and helping us find funding for the stormwater and sewer projects."