Geneva changes mind, lets liquor licensees run for office
An earlier version said an alderman opposed the change. Alderman Dean Kilburg voted against it Dec. 5, but in favor Monday.
Geneva will let liquor licensees become alderman after all.
With some maneuvering that probably has "Robert's Rules of Order" author Henry M. Robert spinning in his grave, aldermen voted 7-2 Monday night in favor of changing the city's law.
Aldermen last week voted 5-4 in support. But since the change required at least six "yes" votes, Mayor Kevin Burns cast a rare vote, and voted "no."
The reversal started with three aldermen calling a special city council meeting, an infrequent move.
Then Monday, the council first had to agree to suspend a usual parliamentary rule, so that an alderman on the losing side of the Dec. 5 vote could request reconsideration.
It then had to suspend another rule, so that the reconsideration could happen Monday night.
It then voted twice against Alderman Dean Kilburg's motions to table the reconsideration to other dates. He wanted a full city council to vote on the matter, and Alderman Tara Burghart was absent Monday. Burghart opposes letting license holders be alderman. Kilburg supports it, but thought the vote should be delayed until after the filing period for the spring election. Monday night, he voted "yes."
No one from the public spoke about the matter. Alderman Don Cummings read aloud a letter from a resident who supported the change. The resident pointed out that more types of businesses, including coffee shops such as Graham's 318, are getting liquor licenses. The previous restriction meant fewer business owners could run for office, wrote Marty Smircich.
Geneva's law was based on previous state law. But in 2009, the state changed its law, to allow license holders in towns of fewer than 50,000 people to run for alderman or trustee. They have to recuse themselves from matters affecting liquor licenses, including their own.
Geneva considered amending its law in 2012 when a bar owner was trying to run for alderman, but abandoned the idea. Burns opposed the idea in 2012.