CARBONDALE - City council will reconsider the cost of fire-protection fees after a proposed amendment sparked discussion at a meeting Thursday.
The council also adopted the proposed $5.8 million 2013 budget with a 1.03-mill tax increase, which City Clerk Michele Bannon explained equaled about a $9 tax increase for the average household.
A mill is a $1 tax on each $1,000 of assessed property value.
In January, the council enacted a $50 yearly fee for fire-protection service for each lot in the city.
An amendment to the fire-protection fee was scheduled to be introduced Thursday, with a sliding pay scale depending on the property. But council members found the categories were too broad in some areas. Some buildings house a business and at least one residential apartment. Several council members expressed a concern that these would be overcharged as commercial properties.
"All you're doing is scaring people out of this ... town," Councilman Francis Lagana said at one point during discussion, referring to the increasing fees.
An ordinance adopting increased building permit fees was approved in a 4-3 vote, with council members citing similar concerns over fees. Mr. Lagana, Walter Martzen and Joseph Marzzacco voted against the ordinance, which adds a $5 permit fee for work totaling $200 or less.
"Pretty soon they'll want a fee to cut grass," Mr. Lagana said after the meeting.
He also explained that though some fire-protection fees were acceptable, others needed to be reconsidered.
Council also approved a residential parking permit ordinance, providing qualifying property owners and renters the option to purchase a $50 or $75 permit, respectively, if they reside in an area where there are parking meters. In commercial zones, the fee will be $100.
In other business, the council approved a $900,000 tax anticipation note and tabled the approval of a collective bargaining agreement with Local 81, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The union includes Department of Public Works employees, financial clerks and city clerk. The agreement will expire Monday, but Ms. Bannon said talks will resume next month.
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