A committee of the South Bend Common Council accepted a substitute and voted to forward a measure approving a scrap metal/junk dealer license for Alternative 2 LLC to the full council with a favorable recommendation.

Michelle Adams, Community Investment presenter, told the Community Licensing Committee that the renewal application for Alternative 2, located at 700 West Chippewa Avenue, had been reviewed by the police department, the fire inspection bureau, neighborhood resources and the zoning department and "the property was inspected and received favorable recommendations regarding fire code and environmental compliance, also for the proper maintenance of the premises and the height and condition of the fence." Adams also said the company's LLC had been restored to good standing with the Indiana Secretary of State.

The substitute version of Bill 25-27 was accepted by voice and by roll call; committee members recorded “aye” during the roll call and the chair declared acceptance. The committee later voted to forward Bill 25-27 to the full council with a favorable recommendation. A roll call on the recommendation recorded Committee Member Gooden Rogers (aye), Committee Member Bolden Simpson (aye), Citizen Member Kane Kujewski (aye), Citizen Member Thomas Greif (aye) and Committee Vice Chair White (aye). The clerk recorded five ayes and the motion to forward passed.

Committee Chair Warner asked staff to add additional verifications to future license applications. Adams said the licensing form will be updated so staff will check the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) virtual file cabinet and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency records for environmental issues and verify Secretary of State registration before bringing future licenses to committee. Adams said the police department advised that businesses that obtain items legally (for example at auction) and then resell are not required to report purchases in the state police reporting system, and that nonreporting in that circumstance is considered compliant.

Committee Chair Warner also reminded the committee of a virtual-attendance policy and asked Citizen Member Thomas Greif to abstain from voting today until his consecutive online-meeting count was confirmed; Greif was allowed to participate in discussion but not vote pending confirmation.

The committee heard no public speakers for or against the bill before the vote. The measure will appear on the council calendar later in the day for final consideration by the full council.