'Too Spendy': Clarendon Hills Rejects $3.3M No-Bid Downtown Deal

CLARENDON HILLS, IL – Clarendon Hills residents on Monday argued against a nearly $3.3 million no-bid contract for downtown improvements.

With bids being waived, the village needed the support of two-thirds of the village trustees. Only three of the six backed it.

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The project's cost was almost three times the village's April estimate of $1.2 million.

Residents got four days' notice of the plan. The contract would have gone to Rosemont-based Christopher Burke Engineering, which works for many area towns.

Among the critics was former Trustee Greg Jordan, who called the no-bid procedure a "back-assward" way to proceed.

"It offends me," he said.

The Clarendon Hills Village Board heard nearly two hours of public feedback on the plan for a "flexible gathering space" downtown. (David Giuliani/Patch)

Clarendon Hills architect Tom Smiles called the procurement method in question "complicated" and described the plans listed in the village's materials as "cartoons."

And Kathleen Hirsman, a former Hinsdale High School District 86 board, urged the board to hold off on taking any action until Sparrow Coffee opens downtown.

She accused officials of cherry-picking results from the village's survey of residents on downtown.

Patch's analysis of the survey found that most residents opposed a downtown plaza to replace the Kenneth Sloan Triangle and a special lane from Prospect to Park avenues.

The village later said the Patch's conclusion was misleading.

Many residents opposed the plaza, saying it would create traffic problems.

In response, the Village Board in April decided to create a "flexible gathering space" at the triangle and slip lane.

The plan was to install removable bollards to block traffic during events and include other "hardscape" upgrades, such as pavers, to make events more doable.

At Monday's meeting, Trustee John Weichert said he supported the idea. He called it a "transformative" project similar to what other suburbs are doing, adding that it would entice businesses and activities to town.

Trustee Omar Chaudhry backed the proposal as well, saying he wanted a way to keep businesses in town.

"I want to stop this endless cycle of businesses that open and close when their leases are up," he said.

Trustee Ralph DeAngelis disagreed, noting a big cost hike from the earlier estimate.

"I just feel it's too spendy for me," he said. "I do want to make reasonable improvements to downtown."

Noting residents' questions, trustees asked village staffers about the no-bid contract and the cost increase.

Brendan McLaughlin, the village's public works director, said the village has done such design-build deals before, including for the police station.

The village, he said, wants high-quality work downtown.

"I don't think anyone wants the low bidder working on downtown," McLaughlin said.

For the job, Burke Engineering secured subcontractors. Those businesses, McLaughlin said, will want to do well for Burke. Some have already worked with Burke on such projects, he said.

"If they are successful, they'll get more jobs down the road," he said.

As for the cost hike, McLaughlin indicated the previous estimate was for the earlier plaza proposal. In some ways, he said, a flexible gathering space will cost more.

He also cited inflation, rising steel costs and war-caused fuel price hikes.

Trustees Chaudhry, Weicher and Mark Peterson supported the no-bid contract.

Voting against it were DeAngelis, Elizabeth O'Connell and Chris Lang.

Kathleen Hirsman, a Clarendon Hills resident and a former member of the Hinsdale High School District 86 board, questioned on Monday the plan for a "flexible gathering space" in the village's downtown. (David Giuliani/Patch)