Joining a DuPage County trend, Westmont village trustees on Monday approved a measure that imposes strict guidelines on massage parlor operators and workers. The new ordinance requires massage parlor operators to be licensed, to employ only workers who have recognized training in therapeutic massage and to comply with periodic inspections of their establishments. Other provisions include fines and penalties, background checks for massage parlor operators, restrictions on sexual innuendo in advertising, cleanliness and hygiene guidelines and a system for reviewing, granting, suspending and revoking licenses.
Existing operators have until April 30 to comply with the new restrictions. Massages done at hospitals or in other places by medical professionals are exempt from the ordinance. Cass Ave. Village officials said that although they have been considering adopting a massage parlor ordinance for some time, two recent arrests at the business motivated officials to take action quickly. Police arrested a woman in May and another Nov. Village attorney John Zemenak said that by declaring the spa a public nuisance, the village is laying the groundwork for a lawsuit aimed at shutting down the spa, which could be filed within the next few weeks.
By Chicago Tribune. More in News.
