Politics & Government

Niles Considers Liquor Commissioner; Meeting Today

The fact new Mayor Przybylo holds a liquor license requires trustees to enforce a new law that says someone else (other than the mayor) must hold the title of liquor commissioner. Some want to be thorough in approaching this.

 

When three new Niles trustees took office Tuesday, May 13, they immediately had to consider how to put into effect a new Illinois law--which had made it possible for new Mayor Andrew Przybylo to run for mayor. Because it brought up some touchy issues, the discussion got a little heated.

The board wlll meet again tonight, May 20, to discuss the issue further.

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Up until recently, Przybylo would have been barred from running for mayor due to a Prohibition-era law which prevented liquor license holders, of which Przybylo is one, from also being mayors.

However, three local Illinois House representatives, who represent Niles and areas nearby, succeeded in passing a law a few months ago that would enable liquor license holders to run for mayor, thus clearing the way for Przybylo to run. 

Find out what's happening in Niles-Morton Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Earlier:  

Earlier: Special treatment for Przybylo? 

Earlier: Przybylo responds to liquor license allegation

The new law requires trustees to meet, without the mayor present, to choose a liquor commissioner--who must be a practicing attorney.

They did so Tuesday, with Trustee Chris Hanusiak saying he felt the board needed to discuss the issue and set parameters, such as how much the liquor commissioner should be paid, whether he or she would be a contract or permanent employee, whether the person would get a village vehicle, the training of the person and setting the individual's job description.

"I came up with 11 points we have to look at before we hire an attorney," Hanusiak said."...Those things have to be in place before we hire a liquor commissioner.

"This is all new ground, so we can’t just hire somebody without setting a salary....I believe we need another meeting in executive session," he added.

New trustee George Alpogianis took issue with Hanusiak's statement, saying all those details were "taking it to the extreme." Nevertheless, he agreed to a meeting for the board to set the parameters.

When Hanusiak ran against Przybylo in the April 9 election, he raised as a campaign issue the fact the village would have to spend money on hiring a liquor commissioner if Przybylo won.

On Tuesday, the board also considered whether to appoint Village Attorney Joe Annunzio as temporary liquor commissioner, while Annunzio searched for four qualified candidates to present to the board.

Hanusiak asked Annunzio if that could create a conflict of interest with his village attorney position, and Annunzio said it's possible a conflict could arise.

When Trustee Rosemary Palicki questioned further on that point, Annunzio said that as an attorney, he has to abide by a high ethical standard.

The board voted 5-1 to install Annunio as the temporary liquor commissioner, with Palicki the only one to vote no.

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