"We have put a lid on it," one city official said after Monday's Chaffee City Council meeting.

The ice storm and a weeks' worth of second thoughts seem to have neutralized some bitter feelings among elected officials.

The storm clearly brought out the best in the town. Everyone involved in responding --from the mayor and police chief to firefighters and street crew -- was uniformly praised by those present at Monday's meeting.

No one talked about the failed impeachment vote at the Feb. 6 closed meeting. No one complained about the police department's investigative stops.

On Friday, while Councilman Tom Cunningham was selling tickets for the Elks' fish fry, Richie Seyer was at the other end of the room, making sure folks had enough ice water or tea.

Seyer shrugged off talk about the police stops -- it happened to a friend, but, whatever -- and wasn't sure what to think of the attempted impeachment. He wasn't at Monday's meeting. The biggest deal in his world right now involves raising $1,300 to pay for the next Senior Citizens Thanksgiving Dinner. (Look for him and others at an intersection near you later this year, collection cans in hand.)

Seyer is a Chaffee High School junior, the public relations officer of the Future Business Leaders of America. He belongs to Family Career and Community Leaders of America, too.

Sue Sheffer, president of the city's police commission, grew up in Chaffee. Her dad, Dennis "Oscar" Bess, ran Sinclair Service Station for 45 years. He was the kind of guy who would help a kid put air in his bicycle tires, then take him next door for an ice cream. He died in 2002, a World War II veteran, father of six.

"My dad believed in paying it forward," she said.

I've been thinking about Oscar and Richie all weekend. They are connected though a legacy of giving, and of community building.

But Oscar probably couldn't solve the city council's problem with an ice cream and a friendly talk any more than post-ice-storm camaraderie will.

After Monday's meeting, I asked several people there if the dustup is over. Most said they hoped so. One said, "In Chaffee, it ain't ever over," then said he hoped it was, anyway.

Sweeping a problem under a rug and promising to "move forward," as so many have suggested doing, may be no more effective than the pre-storm bickering.

Neither addresses the closed meeting vote or how elected officials can successfully tackle future contentious issues.

If no one talks about it, how can they?