Orland Fire Protection District trustees have suspended the hiring of 11 new firefighters for at least two weeks while they review the costs and potential savings associated with hiring any or all of them.
“This does not mean that the 11 firefighters will not be hired,” District Board President James Hickey said. “All it states is that we want further reports to determine what is the advantages and disadvantages of hiring four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10 and 11 firemen.”
The process for hiring firefighters started before last week. Several of those men lined the back of the room and declined to speak about the meeting.
Trustee Martin McGill noted that some of them have already “resigned from their present positions” and reminded Hickey that he voted yes to hiring only a few weeks ago. Hickey said he doesn’t doubt the district needs firefighters to fill retirement vacancies.
“We are here for the taxpayers,” he said, “and we are here to make sure that their money is spent properly, and we need to have all of the information necessary to make a detailed decision.”
For “two years, maybe three years," McGill countered, "the chief has been asking to hire new individuals. Unless I’m half crazy I know that discussion has pursued…in an executive session that we had. The chief wanted 16 and we all agreed on hiring 11...”
Either way, a special meeting on the subject will be held on June 7 to give at least new trustees Blair Rhode and Christopher Evoy time to catch up.
The morning's , although the contention took on a more cordial tone.
“It’s a work in progress,” spokeswoman Rosemaria Genova said, speaking on Hickey’s behalf, after the meeting. “It’ll take a little time for the board to kind of get unified on some of the new changes. I think (you’ll) eventually see a little more cooperation…as the time progresses.”
Publicly, as he did last week, McGill complained of not possessing full knowledge of the issues or at least applications from the various services and people on the agenda. Hickey said McGill should have had most of it in his board packet.
Several issues were postponed until later, so that board members could discuss them behind closed doors and then come back out to vote.
The public comments were even less contentious. However, the morning manners did little to refrain audience members from murmuring amongst one another. “Let the lies begin,” one lieutenant muttered to neighbors as the board members were seated. Another woman likened the impending meeting to a “witch hunt.”
Sometimes in full agreement, sometimes without the approval of trustees McGill and Glenn Michalek, the board:
- repealed policy that says battalion chiefs cannot serve on other districts
- moved board meetings to the third and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 5 p.m.
- appointed John Brudnak to fill open seat on board of commissioners next month
- fired Bill Figel and his public relations company
- hired Urban Strategies Group, led by Ray Hanania, on an interim basis to handle public information
- suspended all non-essential expenditures until Rhode and Evoy can study the past and potential future purchases
Chief Bryant Krizik and Operations Deputy Chief Joe Madden have also been put on 30-day administrative leave with pay. Krizik deferred questions to Hickey and Hickey denied comment.
When asked whether the board’s disagreements had become a distraction, Krizik said he has run “the fire district without reduction in workload or anything, all the way up until this morning.”
Battalion Chief Ray Kay, who was made interim chief, said, “I think we have to make sure we maintain our service to the public, and I think anything more than that is really not within my scope. I have to keep things running and keep things going.”
Last week the board discussed firing Tom Dubelbeis and hiring former trustee Cindy Katsenes and former Chief Bob Buhs as consultants. The issue will be addressed at next month’s meeting.
The board was expected on Thursday to appoint Martin McGuire to fill an open fire commissioner’s seat, but trustee Christopher Evoy nominated Brudnak, a former village trustee candidate and Orland School District 135 Board of Education member, during the meeting's last minutes.
“McGuire is currently out of town,” Hickey said. “I still do like him for the position but some of the other board members voted differently for John Brudnak, so I’m in agreement with John Brudnak as well.”
Evoy, Rhode and Brudnak were all a part of the Fiscal Voices of Orland slate, which received support from Cook County Commissioner Liz Gorman. Within the last two months the party received campaign donations from Del Galdo Law Group (who was hired to represent the fire district last week) to the tune of $4,750 and from Alfred Ronan (who according to Rhode is an associate lobbyist of Cheryl Axley, who also was hired this week) for $3,700. Katsenes is registered with the state as the party’s treasurer.
Katsenes said she plans to review the district’s legal fees and past expenditures if hired as a consultant.
As a lobbyist for the district, Axley’s job will be to research federal and state grants and keep in touch with the Northern Illinois Alliance of Fire Protection Districts.
“We’re the largest...fire district in the state of Illinois,” Genova said. “And so it’s in our interest to bring in funds and ease the burden on taxpayers.”
“Go, get us money,” Orland Hills resident Gillian Mandekich said in reference to Axley. “If that’s what she’s doing, great. However, why did it have to come from the second largest contributor?”
Mandekich said her husband works for the fire district.
“I’m not against what the board is doing,” she said. “But why is it that the first two things (they) do are about patronage?”
Return to Orland Park Patch later for videos from the meeting.
Ray Hanania
I just want to say: Respect the institutions you serve. Respect the public you serve. Respect our common values. Respect each other. It's not about who is right or wrong, it's about how to get things done together so we can live together.
I respectfully disagree with your posts and your personnel agenda with this fire district. First you said you served in the U.S. Air Force, Thank you for doing that and protecting my family and our country. That said, if someone does not wish to leave there real name who cares, that is there right that you served to protect. Does this mean there view is meaningless and should be discarded or attacked? As a reporter don’t you hide your sources? Maybe it is someone that works for the fire district and they have a family to feed and bills to pay. Look how they removed personnel the very first meeting, the new trustees even admitted it may take a while learning this stuff, but they new enough to remove people? How can that be unless it was political? I think we all can agree that we want honest and open government and how it spends our money not there money. In the meeting they had, where was the honest and open with the contracts the trustees promised the taxpayers? The law firm hired gave money to both Liz Gorman and fiscal voices for Orland, no quad pro quo? You were defending John Fotopoulos who also gave to Gorman’s campaign.
$500.00 Purpose: Car Payment Vehicle Used primarily for Beneficiary: Liz for the 17th governmental and political purposes 1/6/2011 $500.00 $500.00 Purpose: Car Payment - Vehicle used primarily Beneficiary: Liz for the 17th for governmental and political purposes 2/5/2011 $500.00 Purpose: Car Payment - Vehicle used primarily Beneficiary: Liz for the 17th for governmental and political purposes $500.00 Purpose: Car Payment Vehicle Used primarily for Beneficiary: Liz for the 17th governmental and political purposes $500.00 Purpose: Car Payment - Vehicle used primarily Beneficiary: Liz for the 17th for governmental and political purposes The cell phone use: AT&T Mobility P. O. Box 6428 Carol Stream, IL 60197 $253.78 Purpose: Cell phone Beneficiary: Liz for the 17th Now I used the above information directly from the State of Illinois and the required campaign funds documentation. It is also funny how Gorman’s Treasure for her campaign is Cynthia Nelson Katsenes, again no quad pro quo? The fire district needs the use of vehicles and cell phones for emergencies, really what is her emergency? I know you are going to say they are private donations, well come up with a better way to fund the fire district, they do not receive sales tax or 911 dollars.
Rhode was also a campaign contributor, now I am wondering since CNA Insurance has given multiple times in the same amount of $2,500.00, when is the fire district going to switch to them? Is this why Rhode attacked the insurance right away even though he knows nothing about the district finances? Sorry for the long post, but I could not hold it in any longer
The reason Brudnak got the appointment I bet, was he gave up a sure seat on the School Board were he did a Great job. There is know doubt that Evoy and Rhode will include Steve Williams in some way with the Fire Board. Then spike you can complain some more. Get use to it shorty they have 6 whole years.
When Fireman such as Randy Reeder a deputy takes a fire vehicle to his childrens sporting events thats stealing tax dollars. Please don't mix Apples and Oranges this fire district is a disgrace and a overhaul was long needed. This isnt about Gorman and McLaughlin and those who try to make it that are just frustrated wanna-be's.
Mike, again what emergency does Gorman need to respond too anywhere? Usually communities have rules that a department issued vehicle is used in the district and surrounding communities. As you pointed out he is one of the command staff of the fire district and if an emergency that requires more than what the shift chief can handle, they respond. Now what about when the shift chief is committed for an extended period of time the off duty chiefs will respond to any follow up calls. That is not stealing tax dollars pal, if you want to pay for multiple chiefs to be on duty than I am sure they would like that. It is a throw back to the volunteer days. Should they re-examine the vehicle use policy, yes, do I think that when a chief officer is on call they have a vehicle yes. you forget that these firefighters have families and they want to see there kids games. They miss a lot of birthday's and holidays etc. working when you are off. They have radios and when they think they are needed they can start to head back to the area. Gorman is getting a free vehicle, phone and now paying back people with jobs. That is a fact
Please quit using LIZ GORMAN as a example. She delivers a lot of important services to many different Townships. Wether or not she responds to emergency's is a mute point. The point is what are the CHIEFS doing?
CNA Insurance did not contribute to the FVFO campaign. I was a candidate for the village board on the FVFO slate and the contributions were from me personally. CNA Insurance is my employer and the Election Board requires you to identify your employer when you contribute to a campaign. Steve
Steve, sorry on my response. but if your company suddenly gets the contract than I guess I was right, time will tell. You see how easy it is if you are wrong and you can say sorry. Ray, You say the board is for open government for the taxpayer? Well here is a question, how much is your contract for spokesperson to the district, and how much are they paying the lobbyist? What exactly are the lobbyist doing for the district just grants? If they free lance and say lobby against pensions or health care is this the honest and open government you claim they are doing?
Firefighters, teachers, police, disability caregivers and other public employees are in danger of losing the pensions they have contributed to throughout their years of service. Instead of working toward real reform, Politicians are shifting the blame to the men and women that work to keep us safe, teach our children, and provide other essential services, instead of taking responsibility for their pork. Their goal is to anger and stir jealousy from private sector working citizen onto firemen/teacher & police etc.... Kevin McCarthy...Tinley Park...lawyer...FORMER teacher, voted yes to move bill sb 512 out of committee. Then KEVIN MCCARTHY voted for an obsene pay raise for himself. That, PIG, is the enemy, not our firmen/police/teachers etc. Citizen pay for and deserve excellence in our Firemen/Paramedics and they deserve safe numbers for our growing Orland Park community.
Elected politicians are ignoring working families’ Number 1 priority—jobs and the economy—to deliver political payback to the CEOs and corporations that bankrolled them into office. And now we are seeing some of the "payback", Blagojevich style.
One last thing, God bless the USA and our Military. Thank you for your service to us. They give us this right to disagree on issues. It also is what makes America Great.
This is very alarming.
This is wrong and this is what I plan to tell others in my community. spread the word because only 6% of Orlands voters voted for Evoy and Rhodes. Sometimes in full agreement, sometimes without the approval of trustees McGill and Glenn Michalek, the board: repealed policy that says battalion chiefs cannot serve on other districts moved board meetings to the third and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 5 p.m. appointed John Brudnak to fill open seat on board of commissioners next month fired Bill Figel and his public relations company hired Urban Strategies Group, led by Ray Hanania, on an interim basis to handle public information suspended all non-essential expenditures until Rhode and Evoy can study the past and potential future purchases THESE ARE THE ASSAULTS MADE ON THE ORLAND PARK TAXPAYERS. PASS THE WORD
Robert, the fear thing won't fly. We had one station when I moved here 36 years ago. We were just fine till the Fire department became a Fire district. Did you ever consider being vocal before you were voted out ? Where were you when I asked these questions to your faces? The union backed you, what happened? Now you can't pay them back ! You were supposed to be our advocate and the union backed you!