PROSPECT — Borough Council increased sewage rates $8 per month Monday as part of its agreement with the state department managing the borough's sewage.

Council President Bill Katz said the borough's hands were tied, having explored many options to negotiate and find other solutions with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which manages the borough's sewage.

“We're on a table with them for increased rates,” he said.

The new sewage rate for 2020 was approved 5-1 with Councilman Nick Vaccarello voting against the measure. Councilwoman Janice Boice was absent.

“It sets the new rate; it sets a penalty and sets an interest charge,” said Borough Solicitor Andrew Menchyk.

The sewage rate for 2020 was raised to $80 per month per Equivalent Dwelling Unit, which is used in the measurement. The rate was $72 per month per EDU in 2019.

The borough also set a one-time late fee of 10 percent of monthly sewage charges.

Council had voted by phone to also add an interest charge set at 3 percent annually for any balance that is over 30 days past due.

A vote was held over the phone at an earlier date for the addition of an interest charge. Vaccarello and councilman Todd Wilson voted against it.

Upon the reading of the changes, a small crowd of residents voiced its frustration that $8 was a lot to some.

Residents approached after the meeting did not want to comment.

Councilwoman Mary Harmon said the $8 increase reflects council's inability to impose a minor increase for 2019 because it found out about the contractual obligations too late in the year.

She said the borough absorbed the costs of the missed increase in 2019, but could not do so any longer.

“We're at that point that we have to pass it on to the residents,” Harmon said.

Residents should get their payment books by mid-December.

Vaccarello said he felt council waited too long to act, and said the fee increase wasn't accounted for in the preliminary budget passed last month. His statement was immediately refuted by Mayor Jim Butler and other council members.

“We knew all year that we had an increase,” Vaccarello said. “We knew a whole year before this.”

The borough also passed its budget for 2020. The general fund shows total income of $300,450 and expenses of $284,730.

The borough's sewage budget was passed with an income of $490,000 and expenses of $491,700.

According to multiple borough officials, the budget incorporates the new increase.