Editor’s Note: This is the first of a two part series examining DeKalb’s liquor commission. Part two will focus on the phenomenon of deferring liquor license suspensions.

DeKalb has a liquor commission, but it holds no authority when it comes to handing down punishments, Sparrow said.

The liquor commission was established under former Mayor Bessie Chronopoulos, who served from 1997 to 2001.

Chronopoulos said the liquor decisions in DeKalb should not rest on one person.

“[The commission was] established primarily because I felt very strongly that one person shouldn’t have the say so in liquor matters,” Chronopoulos said. “[There is] way too much opportunity for corruption.”

Sparrow changed the role of Chronopoulos’ liquor commission when he returned to the mayoral seat in 2001.

“When I came back in I said, ‘I don’t have a problem with the liquor commission giving recommendations to the city council on policies,’” Sparrow said. “I did have a problem with the liquor commission taking on added duties under Bessie Chronopoulos.”

City Attorney Norma Guess described the difference between the commission and the commissioner.

Now, the DeKalb liquor commission acts as an advisory body, Guess said. The liquor commissioner sits in judgement of the facts.

This has spurred some disagreement from one of the liquor commission members.

“Now should the mayor delegate some of that authority to the five of us that sit on the commission?” said Kevin Braden, a DeKalb liquor commission member. “I, for one, believe in equal government.”

Under Sparrow’s interpretation of the state law, the mayor has the responsibility of the powers and duties of the liquor commissioner, Sparrow said.

“I take the state statute very seriously,” he said.

Section 4-2 of the Illinois Liquor Control Act of 1934 does state “the mayor … shall be the local liquor control commissioner.” However it continues, “Such mayor … may appoint a person or persons to assist him in the exercise of the powers … for such local liquor control commissioner.”

In addition, section 4-6 of the act states that whenever it refers to “local liquor control commissioner” the term includes any agency appointed by the commissioner.

Thus, is would appear that Chronopoulos’ commission was well within its legal boundaries performing “added duties.”

Despite this, Braden shared Sparrow’s interpretation of the law.

“From what I understand, the state puts the authority to make decisions on punishments unilaterally to the liquor commissioner, who in DeKalb is Mayor Greg Sparrow,” Braden said.

Those added duties included direct involvement in the entire process from public hearing to punishment, Chronopoulos said.