The Committee of the Whole recommended that Maumee City Council allow people who purchase homes between Jan. 1, 2026, and Dec. 31, 2026, 30 days from closing to sign up for the city's sewer inspection program and to sign the commitment form so they can qualify for the 2025 sewer rates.

Speaker 2 summarized the proposal as a time-limited accommodation aimed at buyers whose sellers had not previously signed up for the program and said the city would include a closing insert and partner with the Northwest Ohio Realtors to get information to agents and buyers. "So all home sales from 01/01/2026 through 12/31/2026, if they sign up within 30 days of closing, then we will honor their '25 rates," Speaker 1 said in committee discussion.

Why it matters: Officials said the measure balances two priorities: preventing new buyers from being penalized for previous owners' inaction while protecting the overall sewer-remediation schedule and funding. Staff and committee members repeatedly warned that long extensions to the sign-up window would delay inspections and the broader remediation project schedule.

Project staff cautioned against lengthy extensions. "We really can't afford to delay this project," Speaker 3 said, arguing that further delays would cause cascading scheduling and completion problems. Several committee members agreed that extensions beyond a short window would jeopardize timely design and construction work.

Committee members debated 30-, 60- and 90-day options for buyers. Speaker 7 and Speaker 4 favored the 30-day window to keep the requirement "top of mind" for new owners and to encourage prompt sign-ups; Speaker 6 and others supported 60 days for practical reasons, such as timing of utility transfers and paperless billing. The committee approved a recommendation for the 30-day window and voted to forward that recommendation to full council; the motion was seconded.

The committee also recommended that the city run a concentrated communications plan to reach residents and buyers before the deadline. Proposed outreach includes targeted texts and emails where possible, an insert in utility mailings, printed letters, door-hanger canvassing, and a possible press announcement. "It has to be obnoxiously loud," Speaker 6 said of the outreach effort.

The recommendation also asks staff to work with Northwest Ohio Realtors so that disclosure and program information reach sellers and buyers before a contract is finalized. Committee members discussed whether the city could rely on state disclosure forms or should add Maumee-specific language explaining the consent order and grant options; staff noted any mandatory change to realtor or title procedures would require council action or an ordinance.

Procedure and vote: Speaker 2 moved to recommend the 30-day sign-up and realtor outreach; Speaker 4 seconded. The motion was called and roll call in the committee recorded affirmative responses from at least three members (Transcript shows Arrow, Harris and Bloomberg voting "Yes"). The committee made a second, related recommendation to extend eligibility for 2025 rates for a short window into 2026 (no later than 30 days) to allow the communications push; that motion was also seconded and recorded with affirmative responses.

What happens next: The committee will forward both recommendations to Maumee City Council for formal consideration; staff said they will prepare the communications materials and a recommended ordinance or council action outlining the time-limited eligibility and any closing/commitment-form mechanics.

Ending: Committee members said they will finalize the communications calendar and return to council with a recommendation; the meeting then moved on to the city's 2026 operating budget review and later adjourned.