Oswego honors long‑serving employees and proclaims September cancer awareness months

The Oswego Village Board used its Sept. 2 meeting to recognize long‑tenured village employees and issue two awareness proclamations.

Detective Sergeant Chad Vargas was highlighted for his 22 years in policing and earlier service in the U.S. Navy; presenters noted Vargas’s roles in investigations, school resource work at Oswego High School, undercover and traffic assignments, training roles and program development. Chief Bassin and the board praised Vargas’s contributions to de‑escalation training and other department programs.

The board also recognized Lisa Clatt, the utility billing coordinator, for 25 years of service. A presenter said the village grew from roughly 13,000 to nearly 39,000 residents during her tenure and that utility billing accounts rose from about 4,000 to 12,781. Clatt told the board she plans to retire in September 2026 unless enticed to remain. Billie/Billy Robinson was also recognized for 25 years as assistant finance director and for long service to village finances.

President/Chair proclaimed September 2025 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. In presenting the proclamation the president stated that cancer is the leading cause of death for children in the United States and recited a statistic that "1 out of 6 children with cancer in America do not survive 5 years," and noted that about 20 percent of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer have a hereditary predisposition.

Trustees offered congratulations and community members joining by phone sent thanks; the board then moved to routine business. The meeting closed after trustee reports and a motion to adjourn.