Emilia Teasdale reports in The Columbia Paper that Mayor Tom Curran hopes that charging the public to use taxpayer facilities will "encourage" more public use of the town's buildings and parks. “The fees should be set to encourage the use of village property, to encourage businesses [and] organizations to come to the village to hold events,” Mayor Tom Curran said before the May 25 meeting when the town voted to raise fees. Now, Chatham will charge a $1,000 fee for closing Main Street for events and $550 fee for closing Park Row, using the second floor of the Tracy Memorial/Village Hall costs $30 and the full building is $60 for a one-day event. The town gazebo and the green space around it will cost $30, and using the parking lot at Depot Square will cost $75. Using the parking lot near the Tracy Memorial would also cost $75. Chatham Area Business and Arts President Tom Chulak noted that Chatham is now the only village charging fees to use public spaces. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.