The application of Maria Castanuela, for a secondhand article dealer license and secondhand jewelry dealer license located at 6310 24th Ave, (Las Hermanitas 2ndhand Store) was referred back to the Licensing & Permit Committee by the Common Council Wednesday.

At the Licensing & Permit Committee level, the approval had previously failed 3 to 2.

Alderman Ray Misner voiced his concerns about the license application. He asked Mr. Castanuela (who was representing his wife) about the store’s business model. The plan was to take in donations; no purchases were going to be made. Profits were going to be retained by the owners; it was a for-profit venture. The profits were not going to help fund a non-profit agency.

Misner said he spoke to the City Attorney’s Office about the legal aspects of this type of a business model. He said that he had nothing against the family.

“It was not a question of character; it was a matter of law,” Misner said.  He said he didn’t want to confuse the residents of the city and he’d rather see people donate to non-profit agencies.

Alderman Steve Bostrom spoke for the Castanuela family and was in support of the application’s approval.

“They are honest and hard-working people; they do lots of things in the community. They were moving into a vacant space,” Bostrom said.

Alderman Anthony Kennedy asked Castanuela if he understood Misner’s concerns; his answer was yes. Castanuela replied that he had 600 family members who were making donations to the store.  Kennedy asked Castanuela again whether this was a for-profit or non-profit venture, and Castanuela replied that it was a non-profit venture. Because of the unclear answers, Kennedy moved to send the issue back to the Licensing & Permit Committee.

Misner, chairman of the Licensing & Permit Committee, said he had no problem with this motion. He said he felt that things could be taken a bit slower at the next meeting, and clear answers could be obtained before proceeding any further with this application.

Also at the meeting, the application of Laszlo Kiss for a secondhand jewelry dealer license, located at 6826 Sheridan Road (Antiques Revival), was denied, based on the applicant’s non-appearance.