Adopting Energy Efficiency Code Causes Tension at Village Board Meeting

At last night's village board meeting, the board of trustees reluctantly adopted the 2009 international energy conservation code which requires commercial and residential buildings to meet a minimum standard of efficiency. The code was passed by a 5-2 vote.

Although the conservation codes were recently required in Illinois, no government agency is responsible for policing these codes throughout the state. And, while the state encourages these codes be passed in individual municipalities, there is no state-imposed penalty for non-compliance. Instead, the state relies on villages like Glenview to pass the same codes, which then allows the Village to enforce them — A fact which caused some dissent amongst trustees.

"You have to hold your nose in a way because of the fact that it feels like it's being forced on us," said trustee James Patterson.

Representing the other side of the coin, director of development Mary Bak said most architects and new homeowners in Glenview are complying with these codes. Further, the adoption of these requirements would allow the development department to be more effective when helping oversee new projects, she added.

"We can offer assistance to the residents and the architects as they work," said Bak. "The state doesn't have a staff to enforce or do anything like that."

Village attorney Eric Patt agreed with Bak citing an absence of a true "enforcement arm" of the state. The only way to enforce or require these codes is for the Village to adopt them, Pat added.

Adopting these codes would help to avoid unnecessary confusion for residents, architects and village staff explained trustee President Kerry Cummings.

For many attendees, the debate was really about their complaints regarding other levels of government, according to trustee Debby Kartong.

"This was just a way for people to say they're not happy with the state," she said. "To send a message to Springfield doesn't do our residents any good."

Other topics up for discussion included adding a homework center for students at 4350 DiPaolo Center, replacing the roof and atrium at village hall for a total cost of $332,760 and amending a previous ordinance for business licenses and registration requirements and fees.

The next Village Board of Trustees meeting will  be Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m.