The Glencoe Village Board has started an examination on whether to renovate its council chambers as well as the potential scope of any makeover.
On Sept. 21, Village Board Trustees meeting as the Committee of the Whole reviewed three proposed concepts intended to update the council chambers at Village Hall. The chambers are on the building’s second floor and is where the Village Board and other committees have their formal meetings.
Village staff noted the chambers has not been significantly updated since 1992, highlighting its problems including room’s audio visual equipment noting the microphones and speakers don’t work well and the presentation slides are hard to see.
Assistant to the Village Manager Jon Pape said there are other maintenance and improvements that are needed for the ceiling tiles and components in both HVAC and the electrical system.
“They are not failing but they are out of useful life,” Pape said.
Last year, staff initiated the process and eventually received three concepts for improvements with a budget range with one as low as nearly $696,000 to the most expensive one being nearly $847,000. Pape added there is the possibility of additional costs for asbestos removal.
More Top Picks 8 Best Driving Sunglasses For Seniors
He believes all of the concepts would improve the space.
“Not only do they address all of the deferred maintenance that has been in that portion of Village Hall to make it functional but also in a building where we are squeezed for space, it creates more useful space for us,” Pape said.
The new concepts all include new microphones, speakers, cameras and enhanced video and audio conferencing capabilities.
“All of these options address the electronics which we desperately need to do, so that is great,” Village President Howard Roin said.
There would also be carpet replacement, painting of the walls and woodwork improvements in all of the three options.
Yet differences emerged regarding how extensive the project would be.
Pape said in the least expensive concept, the room configuration stays in the current arrangement with all of the new equipment including new monitors and a mobile podium.
In the second concept, there would be enhanced lighting and a new podium with a television on it with decorative elements behind a reconstructed dais and an ADA-compliant ramp.
The third concept allows for a seating increase from 48 to 56 and opens up the room creating “flex use” opportunities along with monitors on the wall with a lower dais for trustees or commissioners.
“I want to be able connect with the audience,” Trustee Dudley Onderdonk said. “I want to see them, I want to see what they see and I want to have that both visual and verbal communication what is going on.”
Pape said the village is also examining enhancements to the public safety living quarters which is also on the second floor of Village Hall. The two projects may require phasing in over time, according to Pape.
Trustees did not endorse any of the plans but staff did collect feedback from board members.
Roin added the board might have to make some financial decisions.
“I don’t think our residents want us to be grand,” Roin said.
Pape said with the trustee feedback now in place including a closed session relating to the security, village staff will come back with more detailed cost estimates and revised design.
“We anticipate that staff will budget for the project and will return to the village board for further recommendations and approval of the project,” Pape said. “We anticipate that will be in 2024.”
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.