Consumer Affairs Commission

APPROVED Meeting Minutes for CONSUMER AFFAIRS COMMISSION June 11, 2025 VILLAGE HALL, 5127 OAKTON, SKOKIE, IL 60077 – CONFERENCE ROOM A Members Present: Biju Krishman, Ted Lavine, Gary Merrill, George Matthew, Anil Pillai, Natalie Lopatkiewicz, Jerry Kirkpatrick Members Absent: Pretap Sampat, Ashley Silverstein Presiding Officer: Biju Krishman Staff Present: Carol White, Economic Vitality Coordinator Others Present: 1) At 6:01pm, Chairman Biju Krishman Called to Order/Declaration of Quorum 2) Old Business – none. 3) Approval of Meeting Minutes – May 14, 2025, Natalie made a motion. Jerry seconded. Motion Passed. 4) New Business Business Visits and Updates  Sketchbook was visited by Biju and George. They met with Cesar and Amy, who expressed their appreciation for the visit. They shared that the Business of the Year trophy has attracted significant public attention, and they are enjoying the recognition and increased visibility.  Will’s Place was visited by George. He enjoyed a delicious hamburger and macaroni and cheese during his visit. Jeff, the manager, joined George for a conversation about George’s background working with individuals with special needs, as well as the success of Will’s Place and its dedicated staff.  Schaefer’s will be visited by Ashley, with a report to follow in June.  Kneads and Wants will be visited by Ted, who will provide an update in July. Discussion on Commission Role and Name Change Natalie led a discussion regarding the evolving mission of the Consumer Affairs Commission. The group acknowledged a shift toward serving more as a business ombudsman, particularly in light of the recent surge of new businesses in the area. Commissioners emphasized the value of welcoming business owners to meetings, hearing about their experiences, and visiting businesses in person. These interactions have proven to be both helpful for the businesses and rewarding for the commission. As a result of these changes, Biju, Chairman of the Commission, will be drafting a memo to the Village Board to propose a name change for the commission that better reflects its current role and contributions to the Skokie business community. #627909  APPROVED Shredding Event Update Carol reported that planning for the shredding event is currently on hold. She is awaiting a meeting with the sustainability team before moving forward. 4) Summary of Public Comment – no public comment. 5) Adjournment – 6:45pm Meeting was adjourned. Next Meeting of the Consumer Affairs Commission is on July 16, 2025 at 6pm. Respectfully Submitted, Carol White, Economic Vitality Coordinator #627909