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Glen Ellyn policy would require COD to file reports

Glen Ellyn officials say four new buildings at the College of DuPage may have been inspected, but they want proof.

The demand would be part of a village policy statement that would lay out the village’s “purpose and intent” toward its relationship with the state’s largest community college, which sits within village boundaries.

After a lengthy public information meeting on the village’s ongoing spat with the college, village trustees Monday decided they will hold a special meeting next week to consider adoption of the four-page document.

Under the policy, the village would agree to waive permit and review fees and practices for the buildings under construction — unless the college refused to provide copies of construction plans and inspection reports to the village. The college would also be required to address any concerns found by third-party inspectors.

Who is overseeing construction at the college was the subject of discussion at Monday’s meeting. It’s also part of a larger question of who has jurisdiction on the 273-acre campus. The village has sought to have its inspectors examine the buildings, but the college has argued it shouldn’t have to follow local building codes.

The two sides came close to approving an intergovernmental agreement that would have given the college leeway on following certain village codes. But the village sought to include language in the pact that would have maintained its enforcement of health and safety rules.

That was a deal breaker for college officials, who have indicated they will pursue deannexation from the village.

Staci Hulseberg, the village’s director of planning and development, said the college has employed third-party architects to complete building inspections. She said they don’t have the same qualifications as village inspectors, who are certified by the International Code Council.

She also said the village has not received all inspection reports, so officials don’t know if something is unsafe or not complying with code.

Trustee Carl Henninger said there is no organization to oversee building programs at state community colleges, unlike local schools, which are subject to a county regional office of education.

“That’s why we’ve been asserting ourselves, and the lack of independent oversight is the fulcrum of this issue,” Henninger said.

Trustee Peter Cooper blamed the college’s board of trustees for not providing proper oversight and criticizing their calls to disconnect the college from the village proper.

“We have an obligation to make sure those are safe structures. Shame on the board of trustees for refusing to do what they should have done,” said Cooper, suggesting some have hopes for higher office. “They’ve let us down as citizens.”

The board will consider the policy statement at a meeting next Monday.