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Chatham trustees approve utility billing limits, award road project bid and allow alcohol at veterans event; release selected closed-session minutes
Summary
At its regular meeting, the Chatham Village Board approved an ordinance to limit residential utility billing recoupment to 12 months to align with a state statute, accepted a low bid for the Savannah & Walnut road reconstruction project, approved an alcohol waiver for a veterans event, and voted to release specified closed-session minutes under Ordinance 25-31.
Chatham’s Village Board approved multiple ordinances at its regular meeting, including a change to the village code that limits how far the village can seek underpayments or refunds for residential utility accounts to 12 months to conform with a recently changed state statute. Board members said the state requirement takes effect Jan. 1; the village ordinance will take effect immediately.
The board also accepted the low bid to reconstruct the intersection at Savannah and Walnut. Members said the project had a $55,000 budget and that the low bid came in roughly $6,000 under that amount. The motion to accept the bid was moved and seconded and carried on a voice/roll-call vote.
Trustees voted to waive park rules and allow alcoholic beverages at Veterans Memorial Square for a CHM JC’s Oct. Fest event scheduled for Sept. 27. The motion was moved by Trustee Charles and seconded by Trustee Ferguson and approved after no further discussion.
The board then approved Ordinance 25-31, releasing selected closed-session minutes from Sept. 13, 2022; Oct. 11, 2022; June 13, 2023; and Nov. 26, 2024, while leaving other executive-session minutes closed.
Votes and motions were recorded in the meeting transcript with the following motions and actions: the utility ordinance was brought to the floor and approved; the Savannah and Walnut contract acceptance passed; the alcohol-waiver motion passed; and Ordinance 25-31 to release selected minutes was approved. The board set its next regular meeting for 6 p.m. on Oct. 14 and then moved to executive session to review additional closed-session minutes.
Why this matters: The utility-code change shortens the period the village may recover or refund residential billing errors, a direct change affecting residential account reconciliation and potential refunds. The road project and event approvals affect near-term public works and village events.
The meeting record shows approvals by roll call for the ordinances listed above; specific trustee names and roll-call responses are captured in the transcript.
