Villa Park trustees split over liquor-license change, reject Mortadelli upgrade amid gaming concerns

Villa Park trustees voted to amend parts of the village's liquor code but rejected a request from Mortadelli to change its liquor-license classification, a decision that sparked several trustees to debate the role of video gaming and the municipality's duty to protect small businesses.

The board unanimously approved an ordinance amending Chapter 3 of the Villa Park Municipal Code to update fees related to video gaming machines and to remove the local "90-day" forfeiture rule for unused licenses. Separately, trustees approved an ordinance reducing the number of Class D licenses by one to forfeit the license at 54 S. Villa Ave. but voted down Mortadelli's request to switch from a Class AAA (beer & wine) license to a Class AA license that would allow a full range of alcoholic liquors on-site.

Trustee Cozart, who has advocated eliminating the 90-day rule for several years, said the change allows business owners to pay for a license and prepare to open without an arbitrary deadline. "I'm glad to see that it has finally made its way to the agenda after lots of advocating," Cozart said. Community Development Director McLaughlin clarified the local rule was not required by state law and that the ordinance also removed the provision that automatically forfeits a license if an existing establishment is inoperable for 90 days.

Mortadelli's owner requested the reclassification so the business could sell distilled spirits in addition to beer and wine. The second-reading ordinance on that license change (ordinance 12A on the agenda) produced extended debate about video gaming. Trustee Corkery said he…