Glen Ellyn sets 1-day deadline for College of DuPage

Glen Ellyn has set a deadline for the College of DuPage to submit certificates of compliance verifying that new buildings on campus were done to code.

If college attorneys submit the required certificates by 1 p.m. Wednesday, the village would issue occupancy permits for the college's four new or renovated buildings, according to a motion approved 6-0 by village trustees Monday.

An earlier version of the motion drafted by the village attorney stated that the village would withdraw or delay its legal request for a temporary restraining order prohibiting occupancy of the buildings if the deadline was met

But it appeared that those feelings may have changed following a heated exchange between a trustee and college attorney Ken Florey, who told the village board that classes wouldn't be held in any of the four buildings if any safety issues were identified.

Trustee Robert Friedberg asked Florey if others, such as faculty or staff, were going to occupy the buildings, in the absence of village occupancy permits.

"The faculty or staff won't occupy the buildings until the process set up by the Illinois Community College Board is achieved," Florey said.

The college has argued that it doesn't fall within the jurisdiction of the village, and that its buildings meet standards set up by the ICCB. The village maintains that there isn't a process of inspection under those standards, and only village-certified inspections can guarantee the buildings were done to code.

Friedberg asked Florey again if faculty or staff would occupy the buildings without village occupancy permits.

"The buildings won't be occupied by students or faculty or employees until the appropriate certifications have been made," Florey responded.

Friedberg retorted: "Do you think anybody in this room does not know what you're saying? Could you just be honest with us? You're being evasive."

Also Monday, the village board requested that the college submit "final" certificates just before the college is ready to occupy the buildings, at which point the village would request final fire and occupancy inspections of the buildings. If inspectors find the buildings to be in compliance, village staff would issue occupancy permits within one business day, officials said.

Florey said in an interview after the meeting that it would be "a tall order" to meet the Wednesday deadline. The village is seeking 16 signatures from the college's architects and engineers on the certificates of compliance, which officials have said are suitable in the absence of village inspections.

Both sides are due in DuPage County circuit court Thursday for a hearing on the village's legal "pleadings" to prevent occupancy of the buildings.