Fire Commissioner Says He was Bullied into Resigning

Orland Fire Protection District trustees have accepted the resignation of a fire commissioner who tells Patch he felt bullied by in the press.

In an e-mail dated June 4, former Fire Commissioner Thomas Lia wrote, "I just felt bullied by the board president's comments that he would use the fire district's attorneys to use any means possible to get rid of the three fire commissioners, even though specific state laws exist to prevent political interference in the hiring and discipline process."

Shortly after last month, he asked all three of the district's fire commissioners to resign. They refused. At last month's board meeting, Hickey said he would explore legal options to remove them from the board by force.

Commissioners are involved in the hiring, promotion and discipline of firefighters, and are governed by state statutes and local union agreements. In another email sent to Patch on May 19, Lia wrote that “no discipline cases were ever handled by the commission” and he contended that “there are many misconceptions as to our real power and authority.”

In a letter addressed to Hickey, dated two days prior, Lia declined to step down and defended the “impartial” nature of the fire commission board, noting its system of staggered terms. By attempting to replace the entire board at once, Hickey was giving “the impression of wanting to take immediate control of this judicial and fair employment process and making it into one of very political in nature,” Lia wrote.

Lia's term would have ended June 2012.

Commissioner Thomas Hayes, whose term ended at the beginning of June, has been replaced by former Orland School District 135 board member John Brudnak. Hickey has said he is still waiting on Commissioner Mary Beth Casper’s resignation and still considering legal action to remove her from the board. Her term ends in two years.

In a news release, Hickey noted that Casper is “related to the wife of a prominent firefighter.” But he didn’t personally question Casper’s allegiance or judgment. He said he wanted to “avoid any perceived conflicts of interest” and addressed the “problematic public perception” and “possible ethical conflict..."

To date, Hickey has not said what the conflicts of interests were for Hayes or Lia, who remains executive director of the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board. He spent 10 years with the Orland Fire Protection District, working his way from firefighter to fire marshal, before being appointed fire commissioner.

"The best unintended compliment that Mr. Hickey gave me was to call me a 'firefighter' in the press, as the reason for want(ing) to get rid of me," Lia said.