Homer Glen trustees split on $1,000 refund to Lenny’s Gas; agree to draft enforcement amendment to ordinance 19-043

The Village of Homer Glen on Sept. 25 debated whether to refund $1,000 to Lenny's Gas & Wash for fines paid and how to fix a gap in enforcement language in Ordinance 19-043 governing long-term truck parking.

Trustee Fialco moved to approve both a $1,000 reimbursement to Lenny's and an amendment to Ordinance 19-043 to add language regarding enforcement and penalties for long-term parking violations. After debate the board voted to split the proposal into two separate motions.

On the refund motion, trustees were sharply divided. Trustee Fialco argued the village should "do the right thing" and refund the fine because staff concluded the ordinance language that would have authorized enforcement against individual drivers was never created. Trustee Councilino reiterated that the PUD condition (no long-term semi-trailer parking; one-hour limit sign at turnaround) had been met and that the village had failed to draft enforcement language after prior discussion. Trustee Mason opposed immediate refunding, saying an SOP and engagement with the gas station owner were needed before returning funds; Mason also noted one of the two prior tickets had been paid by a station manager at adjudication.

Roll-call on the refund resulted in a 3–2 defeat: Trustees Mason, Stylin and the mayor voted No; Trustees Fialco and Councilino voted Aye. (Clerk roll-call recorded the individual votes during the meeting.)

The board then considered a separate motion to draft an amendment to Ordinance 19-043 to clarify enforcement and penalty authority for long-term parking on private property associated with PUD conditions. That motion passed on a subsequent roll call and the board directed staff and legal counsel to draft the ordinance language and consult with the gas station owner to ensure clarity about required signage and enforcement procedures.

Reaction from trustees emphasized different priorities: some urged immediate refund as an equity correction for the station owner; others emphasized the need for a practical enforcement mechanism (SOP and owner commitment) so the village would not be responsible for enforcement without clear authority.

Next steps: staff and legal counsel will prepare language to amend Ordinance 19-043; the clerk and staff were asked to invite Lenny's Gas & Wash representatives to discuss on a future agenda. The $1,000 refund motion failed; the ordinance-amendment direction passed.