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 opposed gaming in the village because of addiction and social harms: "It's an addictive industry, it preys on people with addictions. And I don't want it in this town for that reason." Trustee Kumar cited research on how gaming can displace other revenue and argued some market entrants rely on gaming as a primary revenue source. Trustee Cordova and President Cassell voted to approve Mortadelli's license change, but five trustees voted no; the measure failed.

Trustees and staff also said the village will take a comprehensive approach to liquor regulation going forward. Manager Harling said staff plans a chapter-by-chapter overhaul of Chapter 3, using state language where required and consolidating license classes; the draft would return to the board in June or July for direction before any ordinance vote.

Votes and formal actions tied to liquor items included: - Ordinance amending Chapter 3 (fees, forfeiture): approved (roll-call majority, final adoption recorded as affirmative by all trustees present). - Ordinance reducing Class D licenses by one (forfeiture of license at 54 S. Villa Ave): approved after waiver of first reading. - Ordinance to increase Class AA and decrease Class AAA for Mortadelli (second reading): failed, vote recorded 2 yes (Trustee Cordova, President Cassell), 5 no (Trustee Corkery, Trustee Patrick, Trustee Kumar, Trustee Alfano, Trustee Cozart).

The board's discussion made clear the Mortadelli vote was as much about broader concerns over video gaming and community planning as it was about a single restaurant's operating choices. Staff noted Mortadelli would remain able to operate under its current beer-and-wine license if it chose to do so.

Members of the public addressed the board before the vote. Several residents urged the board to support small businesses and to consider grandfathering or other accommodations; others and multiple trustees said they are watching how gaming licenses are being used across the village and asked staff for stronger rules and more oversight.

Actions - kind: ordinance_adoption identifiers: {agenda_item_id:"11a"} motion: "Ordinance amending chapter 3 (fees and forfeiture)" mover: "Trustee Cozar (motion to adopt)" second: "Trustee Cozart (second)" vote_record: [{member:"Trustee O'Fano",vote:"yes"},{member:"Trustee Patrick",vote:"yes"},{member:"Trustee Cordova",vote:"yes"},{member:"Trustee Corkery",vote:"yes"},{member:"Trustee Cozart",vote:"yes"},{member:"Trustee Kumar",vote:"yes"},{member:"President Cassell",vote:"yes"}] tally: {yes:7,no:0,abstain:0} outcome: "approved" notes: "Ordinance mirrors state-allowed gaming fees and removes local 90-day forfeiture provision; staff to return with broader Chapter 3 update."

- kind: ordinance_adoption identifiers: {agenda_item_id:"11b"} motion: "Ordinance decreasing number of Class D liquor licenses by 1 (forfeiture at 54 S. Villa Ave)" mover: "Trustee Cozart" second: "Trustee Cordova" vote_record: [{member:"Trustee Patrick",vote:"yes"},{member:"Trustee Kumar",vote:"yes"},{member:"Trustee O'Fano",vote:"yes"},{member:"Trustee Cozart",vote:"yes"},{member:"Trustee Corkery",vote:"yes"},{member:"Trustee Cordova",vote:"yes"},{member:"President Cassell",vote:"yes"}] tally: {yes:7,no:0} outcome: "approved" notes: "Waived first reading and adopted."

- kind: ordinance_adoption identifiers: {agenda_item_id:"12a",project_slug:"Mortadelli-license-change"} motion: "Ordinance increasing Class AA licenses by 1 and decreasing Class AAA licenses by 1 (Mortadelli request)" mover: "Trustee Cozart" second: "Trustee Kumar" vote_record: [{member:"Trustee Corkery",vote:"no"},{member:"Trustee Patrick",vote:"no"},{member:"Trustee Kumar",vote:"no"},{member:"Trustee Alfano",vote:"no"},{member:"Trustee Cozart",vote:"no"},{member:"Trustee Cordova",vote:"yes"},{member:"President Cassell",vote:"yes"}] tally: {yes:2,no:5} outcome: "failed" notes: "Trustees cited concerns about video gaming and commercial impacts on local restaurants; staff will return with broader licensing strategy."

speakers:[{"name":"Trustee Cozart","role_title":"Trustee","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Trustee Corkery","role_title":"Trustee","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Trustee Kumar","role_title":"Trustee","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Trustee Cordova","role_title":"Trustee","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Trustee Patrick","role_title":"Trustee","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"President Cassell","role_title":"Village President","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Manager Harling","role_title":"Village Manager","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Director McLaughlin","role_title":"Community & Economic Development Director","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Resident","role_title":"Resident commenter","affiliation_type":"citizen"}]