Des Plaines strengthens consumer commission

Des Plaines is a town that embraces its history.

Steps away from the city hall, a museum honors the site where Ray Kroc opened the first McDonald's in 1955.

But that doesn't mean this suburb still wants to use terms that recall eras gone by.

As a proposal to change a city law surfaced Monday night, the use of "housewife" drew questions from some city officials.

Aldermen voted to give the city's consumer protection commission more teeth by allowing it to forward complaints to administrative hearings. In the revised law, the city says it's seeking a cross-section of consumer and business interests to serve on the commission.

"At least one member shall when possible be a housewife," it says.

Third Ward Alderman Laura Murphy suggested using a more gender-neutral term.

"I would like to revisit the language in this paragraph," she said.

Fourth Ward Alderman Jean Higgason asked that it be general enough so men who stay at home could be included.

Assistant City Attorney Ray Bartel said they can work on a better term -- something that still says a resident with no business ties must be on the commission.

With the change to allow complaints to go before more formal administrative hearings, the consumer protection commission will gain traction.

"The commission can now focus on fact finding and mediating disputes," 5th Ward Alderman Carla Brookman said.

The commission reviews complaints from any resident about any business. Members are volunteers with varying degrees of experience. Now, the burden of contested hearings will fall on the administrative hearings.

The expertise of the administrative hearing officer plus the fact that the administrative hearings program handles ordinance violations will create a more efficient venue for consumer complaints, officials said.

"This is really going to help our commission be more effective," 1st Ward Alderman Patricia Beauvais said.