Burr Ridge Trustees Oppose Extending Contract with Designer

Burr Ridge officials opposed extending a contract worth up to $9,100 with Josephine Goetz, of Interior Environments, Inc., who has overseen the renovation plans.

To reflect the new scope of renovation work at village hall, village staff recommended tacking on an additional 130-140 man hours at $65 an hour a not to exceed prices of $9,100. However, some trustees said they were opposed to spending additional money on the renovation project.

Prior to rejecting the contract extension the board rejected three bids for renovation of the board room and conference room. Construction estimates provided by Goetz for the two rooms at village hall were estimated at $312,555, however the three bids received by the village were higher than the estimate.

Village manager Steve Stricker said as they move into reexamining options for renovating the conference room the board would need to continue utilizing the services of Goetz to reconfigure the necessary design and send it out to bid again.

Trustee Leonard Ruzak said he agreed the village needed to renovate the public room of village hall, but balked at contracting an additional $9,100 with Goetz. He said village officials were looking at making cuts in the costs of the renovation and said spending additional money with the designer is not an efficient use of tax money.

Mayor Gary Grasso said the high costs of the renovation are why the board rejected the bids and why they still need to retain the services of Goetz to draft plans within their financial estimates. Following the board’s decision not to extend the contract, which is set to expire later this year, Grasso asked the board how they wanted to pursue needed renovations.

Trustee John Manieri in November that he was uncomfortable with spending a lot of money on the renovation, with the exception of updating the lighting and video technology in village hall.

Trustee Bob Grela also took the same line he supported earlier saying the furniture is over 25-years-old and in need of replacing.

“I understand not wanting to spend a lot of money, but many of the pieces of furniture and the carpet are worn out,” Grela said.

Goetz said the dais will have to be removed due to it being inaccessible to wheelchairs, per the Americans with Disabilities Act. To-date, the Village has paid Goetz $10,387.50.

The renovation matter now returns to the Space Needs Committee.

The village has access to $500,000 in captured building performance bond money, which was set aside for the renovation of the Village Hall.