When he was running in the past election Mayor DiMaria said; “I have a plan.”, but he never told us what that plan was. When he was running for office, Mayor DiMaria said; “We will have an open and transparent administration and we will listen to the people.”
Over the past few weeks, we are starting to see the results of Mayor DiMarias’ plan...
For at least two months it was known that there was a state concealed carry law. It was no secret and if the Mayor was to be true to his open and transparent pledge, he could have called a townhall meeting at any time to find out what Morton Grovers were thinking... but he didn’t. He had at least two months to direct the Village attorney to craft an “assault weapons” ordinance... but he didn’t. He could have had that ordinance presented at a regular board meeting for a first read and resident comments... but he didn’t. He could have followed the established rules to hold a second reading at the next regular board meeting giving both residents and trustees an opportunity to digest what was in the new law... but he didn’t.
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What he did do was call a townhall meeting for Monday, July 15th where residents were allowed to comment on a possible “assault weapons” ordinance while assuring all who would listen that there was nothing written and that this was just “fact finding”. It is awfully difficult to comment on an ordinance that doesn’t even exist in draft form. He could have had something in writing for the trustees and the public to consider... but he didn’t .
We were then told that there would be a first read on Wednesday, July 17th. and within 24 hours, the ordinance that didn’t exist, (according to the Mayor), 24 hours previously was available on media sites. A “special” board meeting for the first read was held in Wednesday, July 17th and another “special” board meeting was held the following day, Thursday, July 18th, where the “Assault weapons” ordinance was passed.
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So, Morton Grovers, we are now the proud owners of the Daniel DiMaria Assault Weapons Ordinance... conceived in haste, rammed through with little time for either officials or public to ponder consequences or repercussions and trampling on the spirit, if not the letter, of the Villages’ own rules regarding passage of ordinances.
It has been reported that in conversation with some of the current holders of the 8 liquor licenses in town, Mayor DiMaria assured them that there was no intention of increasing the number of licenses. It was understood by the license holders that they had a valuable business asset and any increase in licenses would devalue their businesses while doing little to increase village revenues. They had the Mayors’ word. They trusted the Mayors’ word. They were disappointed, since the Mayors’ administration increased the number of liquor licenses to 3 times what there used to be. Could it be that the Mayors’ plan is to try to turn Morton Grove into a Rosemont clone? Rosemont has the Donald Stephens convention center. Morton Grove now had the Daniel DiMaria herd of liquor licenses.
In 2005 the man running for Mayor told us he had a plan. That plan resulted in a tax levy increase of 28%. That plan resulted in fiscal problems that continue to this day. Now, we have a Mayor who has surrounded himself with the same folks who were responsible for that failed plan.
Welcome to the new plan... same as the old plan.
