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Trustee raises safety concerns but board approves new Class A liquor license for Treehouse Cafe
Summary
Trustee Oppenheim opposed adding a Class A liquor license covering happy‑hour discounts at a child‑focused facility; the board approved ordinance 2026‑071 to add the license (roll call: majority Aye; one No; one Abstain).
The board debated ordinance 2026‑071 to add an additional Class A liquor license, a measure the village said would enable the Treehouse Cafe to operate with the license class on the village’s ledger. Trustee Oppenheim, who identified her professional background as a pediatrician during the discussion, urged removing happy‑hour discounts, saying it would be "unnecessary and a bad precedent" at a facility geared toward children ages 2–10. She told the board: "I think it's shameful that we are encouraging that."
Supporters argued the applicant provided thorough documentation and pointed to comparable local businesses that allow alcohol where children are present. A resident commenter, Chris Meyer, urged approval "without any restrictions as to the happy hour," and noted he was unaware of prior dram‑shop citations for the operator. The chief of police said liquor establishments receive regular inspections and described compliance checks involving underage‑purchase attempts as part of enforcement.
After discussion the board moved and approved the ordinance by roll call (Ayes carried; Trustee Oppenheim voted No; Trustee Takaoka abstained). The president said the village will "keep an eye on" the new establishment and that routine inspections and compliance checks apply to all licensees.
