Committee of the Whole, 12 May 2026: Water Meter Rollout Hits Final Push
Public Works will update trustees on a water meter replacement program nearing its end, and the board will revisit written conduct protocols that have been in development since 2025.
Key items
- Water meter replacement finale — Residents who haven't scheduled a meter swap may face follow-up action as the village closes out the program.
- Village Board written protocols — A formalized conduct guide — three meetings in the making — could change how board business is publicly documented and explained.
Full agenda — click any item to expand
Automated Water Meter Replacement Project update
Installations began April 22, 2025, and the project is approaching completion. The briefing will focus specifically on customers who have not yet scheduled their meter replacement.
Village Board Protocols discussion
The committee will consider a written protocols document meant to make common Village Board practices transparent and accessible to the public. The topic has been discussed at three prior Committee of the Whole meetings — September 3, 2025, January 13, 2026, and February 24, 2026 — as part of the Strategic Plan process.
What actually happened
Committee of the Whole, 12 May 2026: Water Meter Project Nearly Complete, Fees Proposed
The Northbrook Village Board discussed a nearly-finished automated water meter replacement project and reviewed its own operating protocols at a Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday evening.
Automated Water Meter Replacement Project Update
Deputy Public Works Director Matt Morrison reported the Village's automated water meter replacement project is now 96% complete. The update covered how the new meters communicate using radio-frequency technology. Morrison also presented proposed monthly administrative fees that would apply to residents who require manual meter readings or who delay having their meters installed.
Village Board Protocols Review
The Board reviewed and revised its internal operating protocols, covering a range of governance topics including how trustees communicate with each other and the public, event planning procedures, social media use, liaison roles, and guidance on responding to emails. No vote on the revised protocols is recorded in the minutes.
Closed Session: Village Property Sale Pricing
Trustees voted 5–0 to enter closed session at 7:04 p.m. to discuss closed meeting minutes and to consider setting the price for the sale of Village-owned property, as authorized under the Illinois Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21) and 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(6)). The Board reconvened in open session at 7:24 p.m. No action was reported publicly following the closed session.
Read the official documents
{
"card_hook": "Northbrook's automated water meter project is 96% complete; new administrative fees proposed for manual reads and delayed installs.",
"key_items": [
{
"title": "Water Meter Project: 96% Done, Fees Coming",
"why_matters": "Residents who haven't scheduled or completed a meter swap may soon face new monthly administrative fees for manual readings or delayed installations."
},
{
"title": "Village Board Protocols Revised",
"why_matters": "Updated rules govern how trustees communicate publicly, use social media, and respond to emails — affecting how residents interact with elected officials."
},
{
"title": "Closed Session: Village Property Sale Price",
"why_matters": "The Board privately discussed setting a sale price for Village-owned property, a decision that could affect public assets and local finances."
}
]
}