Clinic officials demand release of report

Planned Parenthood officials Wednesday called for Aurora aldermen to release reports from the city's independent review of their permit application as soon as they're complete.

Clinic officials want the reports by attorneys Richard Martens and Phillip Luetkehans to be made public before they're forwarded to Kane County State's Attorney John Barsanti for review.

"It's clear to any impartial party the review process has become a charade," said Steve Trombley, CEO and president of Planned Parenthood/Chicago Area.

Leaders of the group say they have been unfairly singled out because the clinic's services will include abortions.

Everyone involved has waited long enough to hear results from the city's "never-ending review," he said.

The newest delay supports their belief the city's review is "both unrefined in scope and indefinite in nature," Trombley said.

And without court intervention, he said, the agency may never be able to operate its facility at New York Street and Oakhurst Drive.

"The city is making this up as it goes along," Trombley said, "and to do so is illegal."

City spokeswoman Carie Anne Ergo said Wednesday it's possible the city will release the reports upon their completion, possibly later this week.

"To my knowledge, no decision has been made on that," she said.

Meanwhile, Eric Scheidler, spokesman for the clinic's biggest foe, the Pro-Life Action League, said if the review isn't done until Barsanti has seen the reports, it might be "premature" to release them.

More troubling to him, he said, is that Planned Parenthood leaders are occupying the building though their occupancy permit expired Monday.

Trombley said their understanding from the city is they can occupy the building but not see patients. They have been moving things in and holding training, he said.

With the case already in federal court, city officials are maintaining the status quo, Ergo said.

Clinic officials still own the property and building, she said. A city inspector has been sent out each day to ensure they're not seeing patients.