Consent agenda sparks question in Wheeling

Eric Goldstein came to Monday's Wheeling village board meeting with a message: Pay attention to that consent agenda.

Like most communities, Wheeling has a consent agenda where a bunch of items are lumped together for one vote. Most of the time, trustees approve them all in one motion and don't discuss them individually before the vote.

But unlike most communities, Wheeling has a rule where a resident can ask the board to pull an item from the consent agenda and discuss it later in the meeting. Goldstein did just that and asked the board to explain one of the eight items on Monday's consent agenda - an ordinance about impounded animals. The ordinance reduces the number of days the village holds impounded animals from seven to five. The police department wanted the change saying the seven days was "financially burdensome." After the five days, the animal is placed with an adoption center or humane society.

Goldstein said the board should talk about the change even though "it seems like a small ordinance change."

The board approved the change.