College of DuPage Board of Trustees Vote to Pursue De-Annexation

The College of DuPage Board of Trustees voted to pursue de-annexation from the Village of Glen Ellyn at its Monday, May 23, meeting.

The vote came after the Village Board did not approve an intergovernmental agreement regarding College physical facilities previously reached with the College on April 19. The COD Board of Trustees had unanimously approved the agreement at its April 28 meeting but voted last night to rescind the agreement due to lack of Village Board approval at its May 9th meeting.

“The Board carefully reached this decision after many months of attempting to negotiate an agreement with Village leadership that both sides would be comfortable with,” said COD Board Chairman David Carlin. “We were told we had finally reached an agreement in April only to have Village leadership yet again change its mind. We have done our very best to compromise. After having spent a combined $250,000 of taxpayer money, we believe it is time to separate. We bear the people of Glen Ellyn nothing but good will and look forward to serving its citizens to the best of our ability.”

If approved by both parties, the April 19 agreement would have concluded an ongoing legal dispute between the College and the Village stemming from construction on the COD campus. The agreement would have been in effect for two years, after which both parties could negotiate an extension.

“The Village and the College have had a long and, for much of the past 20 years, contentious relationship,” said Board Vice Chairman Erin Birt. “We believe this decision is in the best interest of the entire District.”