Lisle board approves two additional secondhand business licenses; trustee questions code exemptions

The Village of Lisle Board on Jan. 13 approved increases to the number of secondhand business licenses, allowing issuance to a new antiques and jewelry retailer at 1616 Ogden Avenue and to the Noble Capybara used bookstore at 6464 College Road (College Square Shopping Center).

Both license increases were listed on the consent agenda (items I and J) and were approved after brief discussion. Trustee Lesniak pulled both items for questions about the code that governs secondhand and resale businesses, asking why some business types are exempt from the licensing requirement and whether the exemptions extend to background-check provisions.

Staff said they would review the legislative intent behind the code and return with more detail. In the meeting the manager’s office and other staff explained that the code lists exemptions including used bookstores, new and used musical instrument businesses, and vehicle retailers; those categories were carved out historically when the licensing rules were adopted. Staff also noted concerns that nonregulated secondhand markets can raise questions about how goods are acquired and whether stolen property could be fenced through unregulated resale.

Both items passed on roll call votes with trustees voting in favor. The board did not adopt any immediate changes to the licensing code and directed staff to research and report back on the code’s origins and specific exemptions.