Citations issued in COD-Glen Ellyn sign flap
The dispute in Glen Ellyn about signs being installed at College of DuPage took a turn for the worse Wednesday.
After weeks of relative calm, village officials issued citations to the school when it resumed work on the signs despite a stop-work order issued last month.
The village issued two citations to the school and two to its Woodridge-based contractor, Western Remac, each with the potential for $750 in fines. The citations were for violating a stop-work order and conducting work without a permit.
The contractor and school previously had been given verbal and written warnings that fines would be levied if they resumed work.
Village Manager Steve Jones said he was "shocked and disappointed" at the college's decision to continue the installation of electronic signs that have driven a rift between the two bodies.
"We don't understand why the college would proceed with sign installation when there is a real risk that they will have to remove them," he said.
In April, the village sent the school a letter asking it to cease work on installing the signs, which Glen Ellyn officials say violate village code.
COD officials responded by saying the village has no jurisdiction over the school, which serves an area that includes most of DuPage and parts of Will and Cook counties.
COD Vice President for External Relations Joe Moore said he was upset with the citations.
"This is yet another bullying tactic meant to hurt an institution devoted to helping people most in need," he said. "We are unsure what the village is afraid of, but it's obvious we are simply making good physical improvements to COD and beautifying the area, which benefits Glen Ellyn more than any other community in District 502."
The signs are part of an aggressive construction plan for College of DuPage. In 2007, the two sides crafted an intergovernmental agreement that placed guidelines on the work.
In December 2008, the school unilaterally rescinded the agreement.
When the school began pouring foundations for the signs in June, the village issued the stop-work order.
The latest move could hinder recent efforts to hammer out an interim agreement with the school, which Jones said had been making progress. A session with a mediator to work out any unresolved issues is scheduled for Aug. 13. Jones said the accusation of bullying is off base.
"We have gone to court and had two go our way," said Jones of the school's challenge and appeal to the stop-work order that were decided in favor of the village last month. "We've had interim agreement talks working toward a resolution and they go off and continue the work. So who is being reasonable and who is being unreasonable?"