Welfare agencies urge people to adopt children. Humane societies urge people to adopt dogs and cats. In Darien, citizens could soon be urged to adopt a fireplug.
But the ”Adopt a Fireplug Program,” was met with criticism by members of Darien`s City Council.
”Painting fire hydrants with clown faces is the antithesis of what we want here,” said Ald. John Callan.
The program would allow residents who live near a fire hydrant to paint the hydrant as they would like it.
It`s disrespectful of what residents want, said Ald. Pat Gillespie, adding ”I can`t picture this being done in Burr Ridge or Oak Brook.”
Another alderman, Lawrence Smith, proposed that residents be able to paint the hydrants just red or yellow.
But not everyone was opposed to residents creating art on the hydrants.
”You`re a bunch of killjoys. You don`t remember the Bicentennial. It was so cute,” said City Clerk Gert Coit. Darien`s hydrants were painted red, white and blue during the nation`s Bicentennial.
The proposal will be addressed again at the City Council meeting Monday.
