Ordinance unfair to Morris business people
Comments (...)Dear Mr. Mayor:
As a member of the Morris business community — an antique dealer in the Morris Antique Emporium — I am concerned with the ordnance under consideration and presented by the Police Chief and Mayor of Morris.
After taking care of business in downtown Chicago most of the day Jan. 25, I traveled a distance of 84 miles to and from Matteson, Ill., for the purpose of being present for the Morris Planning Commission to discuss the ordnance draft that was not available for the regulation of “Pawnbrokers and Secondhand Dealers."
Upon my entering the room I was presented with a printed agenda listing the issue on hand. Clearly the Planning Commission council members were not prepared to discuss the issue and gave instructions to attend another meeting, that would be scheduled at a later date.
Mr. Scott Belt stated this was not the meeting to discuss this ordnance, yet it was listed on their agenda. The members did listen to our concerns but were unable to give answers. It was obvious that there was a lack of communication and passing the buck.
As an antique dealer it would be impossible for me to document every purchase and take pictures of the many items that I handle. This ordnance as presented would be an undue hardship on the many businesses affected in the Morris business community. Truly it will force many out of business and clearly drive the business out of Morris. I for one would leave the Antique Emporium and take my business elsewhere. This same feeling was communicated to me by my business associates at the Emporium.
Clearly the people pushing this ordnance have no idea how the antique/resale business functions. How will a certificate of purchase or picture lead to the recovery of a stolen item. Without a serial number or other identifying marks, as brought out at this meeting would not stand up in a court of law. All this ordnance would prove is a mess of unnecessary paper work, photos that would not be worth the paper they are on and create an undue hardship on honest antique and resale dealers in your community.
Mr. Mayor, why would the planning commission be saddled with a regulation with stolen merchandise on their agenda? My understanding of a planning commission, is to deal with new businesses, permits, variances and uses in zoning districts. As business men and women, why were we directed to this Planning Commission meeting to discuss an Ordnance Draft that was not present, and a committee that was not equipped to answer questions?
Mr Mayor, how does the city of Morris allow gold and silver buyers from Ohio to set up in the Quality Inn Motel to buy and sell precious metals without questioning their sales activity? No one on the council was aware this was taking place in your city. How could this be?
The city fathers need to review their thinking about passing an ordnance that will do nothing to curb stolen merchandise from entering their city. The burden is being put on the honest and respectable business people of Morris.
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