After occasional discussions for many years, Oak Brook is moving ahead in the process of setting up a business registry that will include information about businesses in the village.
Village President Gopal Lalmalani said he wants to see a business registry solely to provide information that can assist in the protection, safety and welfare of Oak Brook residents.
“It’s critical that our public safety departments have information on our daytime population and business activities,” Lalmalani said. “That will allow them to be better prepared for incidents that occur.”
The Village Board directed village staff to put together an ordinance creating a business registry and sample forms for discussion at an upcoming meeting. Village Manager Greg Summers said staff has been working with the village attorney to perform research, assemble parameters, and draft an ordinance for consideration at a future Village Board meeting. Staff anticipates that a draft policy regarding the business registry will be on the agenda April 26 for consideration.
Summers said it’s important to have an understanding of how many businesses are located on any given property, the type of businesses, any special material or chemical storage inherent to that business, how many employees and/or visitors may be occupying a facility, who to contact during an emergency, and other parameters that would be essential to understand when responding to a situation.
“Safety is the number one charge of a governing body, and these criteria will enhance the village’s ability to respond to emergencies,” Summers said.
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He said businesses will be asked to provide information regarding key facts on a form designated by the village, whether that be in hard copy or electronically.
“The goal is voluntary submission by all businesses in the community, which is in everyone’s best interest,” Summers said. “Certainly, the village will work with the local business community to help them understand the value of the registry and be available to assist in a smooth process.”
While the goal is to have businesses provide registry information voluntarily, Summers said the registry itself won’t be because essential public safety data is needed for every business in Oak Brook.
“The village will first seek that businesses voluntarily register, after which time we will follow up with any business that fails to do so,” Summers said. “Also, the village’s fire inspection process will help in identifying any business that is present without having complied with the registry requirement.”
Lalmalani said there will be either a nominal fee, or no fee, assessed businesses to be included in the registry.
While village staff and officials continue to move forward in creating a business registry, the Greater Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce continues to oppose it.
“From time to time, the Chamber and village respectfully disagree on public policy matters,” said David Carlin, the Chamber’s president and chief executive officer, adding that the Chamber’s Board of Directors unanimously opposes the implementation of the registry.
“Oak Brook has been a safe community, without a business license or registry, since 1958,” Carlin said. “With thousands of unknown visitors to Oak Brook each day, a registry provides no public safety value. Information on businesses in town is already collected and readily available through occupancy permits, liquor licenses, annual fire alarm testing, building permits, and various public and private databases.”
Summers said he believes the Chamber’s opposition to the registry is founded in a misunderstanding of the purpose and intent with which it is intended.
“Having the appropriate data only helps the village to be better equipped to assist our businesses in the future,” he said. “I am confident that working with our business community will enhance the strength of our relationship.”
Carlin also said the Chamber believes Oak Brook lacks the legal and statutory authority to adopt a business license or registry. He cited the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education’s stance that non-home-rule communities in Illinois do not have the inherent power or right to regulate or license all businesses.
Summers said the village has performed research of the communities within DuPage County.
“It would appear that nearly every community countywide has some form of a business license or business registry,” he said. “Therefore, the registry proposed by Oak Brook is not without substantial precedent in DuPage County.”
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.