I have always been an advocate of there being zero moderation in the chat because I have found that the users who intend to speak with one another in a friendly manner stay and the troublemakers eventually grow bored and leave. However, not long ago, our loveable ChanServ disappeared and became a chat 'ghost' - still present, but not as a chat patron per se. This leaves the operator's chair open to the first person to visit the chatroom. Enter tomfoolery.

Troublemakers now use and abuse the channel operator's abilities at will, and others who are not operators act out in hopes that they are kicked, just for fun, to the irritation of the other patrons. Unless there is some way to return ChanServ to his 'moderator' status, I would support some kind of moderation to deal with troublemakers. Reenk Roink's suggestion about vote-kicking strikes me well.

And finally, no, do not close the chatroom as a temporary solution. The bathwater may stink, but I rather like the baby.