The following items were discussed Monday at the Lemont Committee of the Whole meeting:

Scuba Diving at Heritage Quarries

Village officials continued discussion of a proposed scuba diving facility at the Heritage Quarries Recreation Area along the Illinois & Michigan Canal.

After the Planning and Zoning Commission denied the developer, Henry Fiene, a special use permit, the issue went to the Board of Trustees at their Aug. 23 meeting. The plan was shot down again after failing to get a majority consensus (the board was split 3-3) on rezoning and overturning the special use denial. However, the board decided to revisit the issue at a future meeting.

John Quinn, a member of the village's Heritage Qurry Commission, spoke out against the issue Monday, calling the current plan "irresponsible."

"Every agency in town has recommended not to approve this," Quinn said. "I'm on this committee and I don't think it's a good idea."

Quinn questioned the treatments Fiene would be using on the water, and what they would do to the ecosystem of the area.

"I'm not against scuba diving and I'm not against camping, but I don't agree with the way this is set up," he said.

The issue will be revisited at the next board meeting on Monday, Sept. 27.

Comprehensive Plan Update

Village Planner Charity Jones asked the committee to consider updating the 2002 Comprehensive Plan, which she said is becoming increasingly out of date with current developments.

The committee agreed to have the Planning and Zoning Commission look at the plan and assess which parts of the plan should be updated and to what extent.

Drug/Alcohol Education for Juvenile Offenders

Police Chief Kevin Shaughnessy presented to the committee a proposed amendment to the Lemont municipal code which would require substance abuse education for drug-and alcohol-related crimes.

The Drug, Alchohol and Tobacco (DAT) Education Program is an alternative for offenders ages 20 and under who have been arrested for "misdemeanor or quasi-criminal drug-related offenses," according to the police memo.

Participants will attend two sessions (three hours total) conducted by staff from the Lemont Drug Abuse Education Section. The program costs $100.

Shaughnessy said Lemont juvenile offenders already participate in the DAT Education Program through other departments.

"The program has been looked at by judges and the judicial system as being a great alternative," he said. "The state said they want to expand it, so that's how they're doing it. They're putting it in our hands."

Downtown Parking

Village Planner Charity Jones announced that the Public Works Department was preparing to install new way-finding signs in the downtown area. Before completing signs for public parking areas, the village would have to decide on changes to current restrictions and permit requirements.

Though the committee agreed to keep time restrictions the same for most parking spaces, they discussed changing the requirements to park in the lot next to Village Hall. The lot, which is currently unrestricted, has been used recently by Metra commuters and Lemont High School students, Jones said. The committee discussed the possibility of designating the lot for village business only.

The next meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held at Village Hall on Monday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m.