Emilia Teasdale is reporting for The Columbia Paper at a recent public meeting of the Chatham Village Board, a resident inquired as to how a new electric sign at the firehouse was approved. Mayor John Howe said there was communication between the village board, the planning board and the Zoning Board of Appeals about the matter, but that all happened before he and most board members were elected. The mayor said, in fact, the fire company did not need approval for the sign since it is on village property, but went on to say that the fire company “got a permit” for the sign. Trustee Lenore Packet said she remembers the sign issue coming to the village board for review, but that board members never saw photos or plans. “Everyone was a little dumbstruck,” she said of the sign. She said she has received several phone calls about it. Lael Locke, a member of the zoning committee, said under the village guidelines, the sign was not allowed. Howe said nothing could be done now because the property is exempt. Trustee Jaimee Boehme said, “There are a lot of people who like it.” Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.