Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:
Carpentersville Fire Department Chief John Skillman is set to retire this spring after a 29-year career with the department. A lifelong resident of Carpentersville, Skillman has held various leadership roles, including deputy fire chief, battalion chief, and lieutenant, before being appointed as chief nearly a year ago, succeeding former Public Safety Director Al Popp.
The department is now in the process of searching for a new leader, marking the third chief since long-time Chief John Schuldt retired in 2013. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Kevin Rynders was recently removed from his position, which has been "civilianized" for now. The reasons behind Rynders’ departure remain unclear, and officials have not provided further details on the matter.
Once a new chief is selected, the village plans to review the department’s structure, including the role of the deputy chief. Kathy Lamkin, interim director of human resources, emphasized that the goal is to ensure the department operates efficiently and effectively.
The village also aims to reduce overtime expenses within the fire department. GovHR USA, a recruitment firm, will help identify candidates based on specific criteria, with salaries ranging from $125,000 to $155,000 depending on experience. Village Manager Mark Rooney expressed a desire to find a strong leader who can align with the board’s goals and foster better relations between the village and the firefighters' union.
"We're looking for someone who can bring about positive change and help heal some of the recent tensions," Rooney said. Union President Rick Nieves noted that while there were occasional disagreements with previous leadership, the relationship had generally been cooperative.
However, the relationship between the village and the union has often been strained, with the fire chief frequently caught in the middle. Nieves stressed the need for collaboration, especially after recent staffing cuts and organizational changes.
Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:
Members of the Carpentersville International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4790 are reacting strongly to the planned layoffs of two full-time firefighters, set to take effect on April 22. The union had just begun contract negotiations when the news broke, according to union President Lt. Rick Nieves.
"This is very unfortunate for our members," Nieves said in a statement. "We've made good-faith efforts to reduce overtime costs by agreeing to flexible scheduling, but it seems the village didn't use those measures effectively. We don’t control the overtime that was approved and budgeted."
Village Manager Mark Rooney, who had not seen the union's release, declined to comment. Nieves explained that in 2014, the village and the union reached an agreement allowing for swing shifts, where firefighters would cover each other's shifts during absences. At the time, the village promised that no full-time firefighters would be laid off as long as the system worked.
However, the village reportedly opted out of the swing-shift plan on the same day the layoff notices were issued. This is the second time firefighters have made concessions to address financial shortfalls, Nieves said. He argued that the burden should not fall entirely on the union, especially since other village employees have received raises.
Nieves also pointed out that the village has delayed replacing firefighters who have left due to injury or retirement, straining the already tight overtime budget. A recent staffing study commissioned by the village recommended increasing staffing to four firefighters per station, but the union feels the current layoffs contradict the village's earlier claims of financial necessity.
"We’ve always stepped up during crises, including financial ones," Nieves said. "With the loss of a deputy chief, an administrative assistant, and now the fire chief, we believe the village doesn’t have a real financial reason to lay off firefighters." The union hopes for a resolution that benefits both the community and its members.
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