Tonight’s Board meeting preview

Looking at tonight’s Village Board meeting agenda …

Ordinance Amending the Carpentersville Municipal Code, Title 10, “Vehicles and Traffic” Providing Regulations for the Seizure and Impoundment of Motor Vehicles

As I understand it, the proposed amendment would add a $250 administrative fee for the return of any impounded vehicle. Otherwise, there appears to basically be no changes to when police would tow a vehicle.

Reports in recent weeks, and even as recently as today, led me to believe that the Village would be expanding the towing situations. That does not appear to be the case, however.

In light of that, I don’t really see a problem with adding the administrative fee. It is quite correct that other municipalities have enacted similar ordinances, but they have not expanded towing to cover situations that are not part of present ordinance and law. Waukegan did try, but it resulted in an illegal seizure lawsuit that was found in favor of the plaintiff — though being appealed.

I still don’t like the another item that’s on the agenda, involving the “Improvement Committee”. While work continues to be done on this front by Village staff, driving around the Village one sees improvement and better code compliance. And, the details of how this “committee” would work are unclear, as is any necessary oversight. It’s just a bad idea.

Other items are pretty innocuous and routine.