Glen Ellyn president 'saddened' by COD deannexation threat
Glen Ellyn Village President Mark Pfefferman says he's surprised and saddened the College of DuPage has announced plans to deannex from the village.
In a statement issued Wednesday, Pfefferman called the college's attempts to disconnect an “apparent unilateral action” that village officials learned about through college-issued news releases. College officials have not formally notified the village about their intent, Pfefferman said.
“At this point, the village will wait for any notification by the college board and consider all the options, as disconnection is a lengthy and complicated process,” Pfefferman said.
On Tuesday, COD President Robert Breuder announced plans to disconnect in direct response to the village board's inaction on a proposed intergovernmental agreement. The board tabled consideration of the deal on Monday to give residents more time to learn about it. The college board approved the proposed agreement April 28.
Under the proposal, the village would not enforce certain ordinances on the 273-acre campus, such as those involving building codes and permits. But the village wants language in the agreement that would allow it to enforce health and safety regulations.
The college argues the village added that request at the last minute, after both negotiating teams agreed upon a final version of the pact. The village disputes that.
Pfefferman said he remains hopeful a deal can be struck. By the time dennexation is considered, he said, the village may have finished its education efforts with the public and negotiations with the college.