The Maumee City Council Finance & Economic Development Committee voted to recommend that the City Council update its sewer remediation program presentation to clarify payment pathways and require a contractor authorization form.

The committee motion, made by Speaker 1 and seconded by Speaker 2, directs staff to revise the program presentation to (1) permit the city to pay contractors directly for grant‑eligible sewer lateral work using itemized invoices and (2) keep available the option for homeowners to pay upfront and seek city reimbursement. The committee recorded affirmative roll‑call votes for Barrow, Harris and Ploppenberger and approved the recommendation (motion passed).

Committee members and participants spent the meeting focused on operational details: whether contractors would accept a single final payment instead of a 50% down payment; how invoices should be itemized; and how grant income verification would interact with payment logistics. Speaker 5 urged a signed form so both contractor and homeowner accept that “the payment's not gonna be until after the work's completed and inspected.” Speaker 1 summarized the agreed safeguards: the city would pay only for items deemed eligible under the grant and contractors must itemize invoices.

Contractor readiness and inspection timing were central concerns. Speaker 9 noted many local contractors “are already playing the waiting game just getting permits because it takes forever to get permits,” saying delays of several weeks are not uncommon; speakers said that reality suggests contractors are accustomed to waiting for payment under some circumstances. Several homeowners and participants described affordability worries, arguing city direct payment reduces the cash‑flow burden on low‑income residents who could not afford large upfront costs.

Committee members also clarified that grant qualification and income documentation would remain part of eligibility determinations: the committee agreed the city would not remove income verification from the grant process, but that income should not be used as an additional gatekeeping condition for whether the city will pay a contractor directly.

The motion instructs staff to produce an updated “Sewer remediation program presentation” and to draft the contractor authorization form discussed in the meeting. The recommendation will be forwarded to full City Council for consideration. The committee adjourned after the single agenda item was handled.