The Norwalk Finance & Claims Committee on Nov. 13 recommended that Mayor Harry W. Rilling be authorized to execute an agreement with FAPS Holdings, doing business as Govolution LLC, to handle the city’s phone and online payment processing.

Lisa Diagerelli, the tax collector, said the city solicited about 15 proposals and interviewed three firms before selecting Govolution primarily because of lower costs to taxpayers. Under the proposed terms, credit- and debit-card fees would fall to about 2.4% from 2.99%, and electronic-check fees would drop from $1.25 to $1.00 — or become effectively free to residents if the city absorbs the cost, which Diagerelli estimated would cost the tax office about $3,500 a year.

“Only a smaller number of those [respondents] actually do business in Connecticut and are familiar with our assessment and collection software,” Diagerelli said, summarizing the procurement and interview process that included the purchasing agent and tax-office staff. She described mail fraud affecting paper checks as another reason to encourage eChecks.

Anne Winestrand and other committee members voiced support for modernization and efficiency. The committee moved the item and recorded a unanimous vote to forward the recommendation to the full council for contract and law‑department review.

If the council and law department approve the contract, Diagerelli said the city would attempt to implement the new vendor in the next billing cycle to realize savings for taxpayers as soon as possible.