The DeKalb City Council postponed on Monday a vote concerning extending hours on local bars so that more information about the community’s attitudes is gathered.

If approved by the council, drinking establishments could remain open on a trial basis for one extra hour on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Currently, bars are open until 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday and Sunday; and until 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

The council voted to draft the proposal as an ordinance for examination by other parties.

“The council’s vote will be postponed until the first meeting in July, to give the Liquor Dealer’s Association and others a chance to get together and look at it,” said Sixth Ward Alderman Steven Brody, sponsor of the proposal.

“It’s something that’s been talked about in town for a long time,” Brody said. “Most of the bar owners are favorable.”

DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow said he does not feel strongly one way or the other about the proposal.

Also on the agenda, the council heard a presentation by the D.B. Hess Co., which plans to build a $3.5 million printing plant in DeKalb that will employ 65 people after two-and- one-half years of operation.

A statement from a report by Pandolfi, Topolski, Weiss and Co., who conducted an audit of the city for fiscal year 1987, indicated the city’s revenues exceeded its expenses.

DeKalb businessman John Castle spoke from the floor commending the city’s management and condemning actions of 7th Ward Alderman Mark Powell. His testimony prompted a response by Powell that resulted the council expelling the alderman from the chamber.

A related item is the awarding by an arbitrator of a 4.5 percent pay increase, retroactive from July 1, 1987, for the DeKalb firefighters.

The council had not ratified the decision as of Tuesday.

“We haven’t filed our formal objection yet and won’t comment on it until that time,” said Gary Boden, assistant city manager.

The council recommended the firefighters receive a 2 percent pay increase, which was offered and accepted by other city employees, Boden said. The case went to arbitration when firefighters would not agree to that percentage of a pay raise.