Board OKs Remodeling Project for Plainfield Village Hall

The Plainfield Village Board on Monday voted to approve a nearly $150,000 first-floor remodeling project for Village Hall, 24401 W. Lockport St.

With trustee Dan Rippy absent, the board voted 4-1 to waive bidding and award the contract to Chicago-based F.H. Paschen, S.N. Nielsen & Associates LLC. Trustee Paul Fay voted against the proposal.

A memo from Management Services Director Traci Pleckham to the board identified "workplace safety issues" that need attention, "including HVAC and firewall deficiencies."

Pleckham's memo also noted that the original carpet is buckled/torn and is being held down with duct tape in areas to reduce tripping hazards. 

"In addition, to better serve its residents and make Village Hall operations more efficient, staff is recommending consolidation of the administration and management services front desks," the memo continues. "In addition to correcting the building safety issues, improved customer service and operational efficiencies, this renovation will also allow for additional work space should future needs arise."

Pleckham said the work will address air quality and ductwork issues. 

"It's a beautiful building," but after 11 years, changes are needed to increase efficiency, she said. Pleckham said the remodeling will include the installation of a central front desk area, and some empty desks — vacated by downsizing in recent years — will be removed.

Pleckham notes that the $149,872.37 pact with contractor F.H. Paschen is through the City of Naperville's Cooperative Job Order Contract (JOC), describing the JOC as a scenario in which "one agency will seek bids for certain products ... and other government agencies are allowed to take advantage of the contract pricing."

The process meets state bid requirements, Pleckham wrote, and "utilizing the JOC for this product reduces the level of effort involved in specification design and development" and also "provides the benefit of bulk pricing, so that small products such as this renovation can achieve cost savings yet still receive high quality services."

A construction timelines has not yet been set, but Pleckham said a "kickoff meeting" is scheduled to lay out a construction schedule. She estimated that the work should take about two months to complete, and should be finished by fall.

Fay, who cast the lone no vote, said he does not believe the project represents the needs of Plainfield's residents.

"I think when any unit of government continues to raise taxes and spend for things that are not necessary, it's bad government," he said. "I think we are no different than the State of Illinois or any unit of government that continues to raise taxes and spend for themselves."