A candidate running for Kane County Board may spark a change in the way Montgomery handles temporary liquor licenses for political events.
Members of the Village Board of Montgomery said they plan to conduct a special board meeting to look at the law regarding temporary liquor licenses, which currently are not available to candidate events.
Mayor Matt Brolley directed staff to plan a special meeting in the next few weeks after the board’s attorney Steve Anderson said the practice is currently not allowed.
Board members said the issue should be visited. Brolley, however, said he doesn’t want to change policy too quickly.
“We have to think about everybody else,” Brolley said.
At issue is a request from Linda Olson who said she is planning to have a fundraiser in early September and wants to serve wine.
“I want a limited amount of wine available, not to be sold, to guests with appetizers,” she told trustees.
The village attorney said, while that would not be allowed under the current law, the board could choose to change the code.
“At present I don’t believe the request can be granted. It doesn’t mean the board can’t choose to change that. For temporary liquor licenses it has be a not-for-profit society, fraternal or benevolent organization,” Anderson said.
The attorney told Olson if she is registered with the secretary of state as a candidate it may fit into a new category. Olson said she planned to do so before the event, and trustees would need to change or enact a new ordinance to allow the practice.
“Because politics is at the heart of democracy, it is to the advantage to the residents of the village to have political activity here and people then have the chance to meet the candidates,” said trustee Stan Bond.
“As far as I am concerned I agree the conversation needs to happen and it needs to include political organizations. If we need a special meeting that is fine, it is dependent on the other trustees,” said Steve Jungermann.
Denny Lee, another trustee, said he would be in favor of such a meeting.
The village attorney said the ordinance would need to be voted on at the meeting, and while there is not one currently scheduled before the event, a special meeting could be called.
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Lee said the meeting wouldn’t be long as there would only be the one item on the agenda. “It’s probably right for the political people so they could have a fundraiser,” he said.
Olson is running for a position on the Kane County Board.
Judy Pochel is a freelance reporter.