Emilia Teasdale is reporting for The Columbia Paper the Chatham Village Board has voted to rescind fees for closing Main Street and Park Row, and fees for village police protection for public events. In 2017, the board adopted a fee structure for closing the roads in the village for events. Event organizers have been paying $1,000 to have Main Street closed and $550 for Park Row. The village streets are closed for Summerfest and other events hosted by the Chatham Area Business and Arts, a member organization for local businesses. The practice of charging for these services became an issue last summer, when the cost of police coverage during the county fair, which takes place at the fairgrounds in the village, was raised. The changes were prompted when newly elected Mayor John Howe said he had done research on the issue and found that “it is illegal to ask or charge for police protection.” He also said that it appears to be illegal to charge for closing the streets. The village will still charge for the use of the Tracy Memorial Building, the village Gazebo, and the Main Street and Depot Square parking lots. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.