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East Dundee debates procurement code changes and using new adjudication powers
Summary
Trustees discussed proposed code updates to allow online bid advertising and to let staff open bids, and reviewed a state law that gives hearing officers injunctive relief; trustees asked staff to preserve public transparency and set board review thresholds for costly enforcement actions.
Village legal staff and trustees on Nov. 17 reviewed proposed revisions to the village procurement code and discussed changes to the administrative adjudication process that will follow a new state law.
The village attorney explained the proposed procurement amendments would give staff flexibility to advertise bids using online platforms such as DemandStar or the village website rather than requiring publication in the local newspaper, would allow plan materials to be filed online or at the clerk's office, would clarify deadlines, and would replace a cash‑deposit requirement with performance bonds or certified checks. The attorney also proposed that staff, not the full board, open and tabulate bids to avoid delays in procurement processing.
Several trustees expressed concerns about dropping newspaper notice entirely, saying some contractors still rely on print ads. One trustee requested that newspaper posting remain an option and asked staff to keep an accessible public viewing process when bids are opened. Trustees also discussed a proposed ethics provision preventing bidders from privately approaching board members before bids are closed; the attorney said the rule protects fairness and staff can add a public viewing mechanism or virtual opening if the board prefers.
On administrative adjudication, the village attorney described a new state law effective Jan. 1, 2026, that grants hearing officers injunctive authority to order property owners to remedy code violations and to authorize the village to act if owners do not comply. Trustees asked whether the village would inform the board and whether expenditures above a threshold should require prior board approval; the attorney suggested either an internal policy or a code provision setting a dollar threshold for board notification/approval and said adjudication orders remain subject to appeal in circuit court.
The board did not vote on the procurement code or adjudication ordinance at the meeting; staff will redraft language to reflect trustees' questions (add newspaper as an option, clarify public bid‑opening access, and propose a threshold for board notification on large enforcement actions) and return with a revised ordinance.
