Archive for April 21st, 2016

Proposed bill to suspend pension payments while drawing a salary

Excerpts from the NorthwestHerald.com:

A bill that would forbid retired public safety workers from working full-time local government jobs while continuing to draw their pensions cleared the Illinois House.

House Bill 1334, filed by Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, would freeze pension payments to police officers and firefighters who work full-time for any other state or local government job that comes with a pension. Franks said it is unfair to ask taxpayers to shoulder two salaries.

The employee’s pension under the proposed law would continue once he or she leaves the post-retirement job.

“It’s insidious, and it’s an outrage. Retirement means retirement, and that’s what my bill does,” Franks said.

The bill passed the House on a 105-2 vote on Thursday and is now in the Senate. It will take effect next year if signed into law.

Franks filed the bill in response to a number of instances over the years, some of them local, in which retiring police officials were able to double-dip even as municipal and state governments struggle with ever-increasing pension liabilities.

Former Lake in the Hills Police Chief Jim Wales retired in 2004, but the village board created the civilian role of director of public safety for him, which allowed him to collect both a full-time salary and his police pension. Village leaders defended the combined income as a reward for Wales’ long and distinguished service. Wales retired from the civilian position in 2014.

Former Barrington Police Chief Jeff Lawler retired in 2009, accepting a 6 percent salary boost as an incentive. The village board subsequently hired Lawler as village manager – what’s more, Barrington subsequently joined a municipal lobbying coalition seeking pension reforms. Lawler made $147,212 as village administrator last year, and received a $109,108 police pension in 2013, according to records.

Similar situations in recent years have occurred in Danville, Chicago Heights, Hinsdale, Franklin Park, and elsewhere. And although Franks’ bill specifically targets public-safety employees, the practice occurs in other units of Illinois government as well.

The Rockford Park District was poised last year to accept the retirement of Executive Director Tim Dimke, then hire him as a full-time consultant to fill the same role. But the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund denied Dimke’s pension request, concluding that he wasn’t truly retiring. Dimke scrapped his retirement plans and continues to work as the district’s director.

thanks Dan

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Tri-State FPD news

Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

The Tri-State Fire Protection District has been busy. In the past five months, the district has gotten two new fire engines, passed a referendum to extend its boundaries, negotiated a new contract with its firefighters, and hired five new firefighters.

The district is in the process of hiring a sixth firefighter, which will bring the district up to full staff for firefighters and paramedics, said acting fire chief Patrick Brenn.

Don Bulat, Tri-State firefighter and president of Tri-State Firefighter’s Local 3165, said the district had been short staffed for at least three years and had to pay its firefighters overtime to cover extra shifts.

The district administration and the firefighters also settled at least eight grievances and lawsuits over various issues, including promotion criteria, sick leave, and negotiations for a new contract, said Eric Habercoss, president of the Tri-State Board of Trustees. The last contract expired in 2012. Prior to his election to the board last year, the district had charged the firefighters were not negotiating in good faith.

Bulat said the previous board and the fire chief handpicked the deputy chiefs, without testing applicants first. The new contract, which is retroactive to June 1, 2012 and runs until May 31, 2017, requires testing for candidates for deputy fire chief, along with lieutenants, and battalion chiefs. The person hired must come from the rank below in the Tri-State district.

According to the agreement approved in December, firefighters received annual raises of 2.75 percent from June 2012 through May 31, 2016. In the final year of the contract, from June 2016 through May 2017, salaries will increase by 2 percent.

For the first seven years of their career, firefighters receive raises based on grades, in addition to annual salary increases. For example, the salary of a beginning firefighter hired this year would be $53,824, according to the contract. After successfully completing one year, the salary would rise to $59,433, plus the 2 percent increase in the contract for next year, which would raise the annual salary for a second year firefighter to $60,621 next year.

Bulat attributes the resolution of the contract and the grievances to the change in leadership. “It was a huge change when we changed administration.”

All three members of the board are new, replacing trustees who resigned or lost their bid for re-election in 2015.

And in November, Jack Mancione retired as fire chief with 18 months left on his contract. Brenn was named acting fire chief, until someone is hired for the post permanently. “Ending all the labor disputes was good for morale,” Brenn said. It saves legal fees, too.

The district’s finances also will be enhanced by the addition of Willow Springs. Tri-State’s three-year contract with Willow Springs to provide fire protection to the village for $575,000 a year, was set to expire in October. The district was not interested in renewing that contract. In March, Willow Springs voters approved a referendum to join the Tri-State Fire Protection District and pay property taxes to the district. Tri-State officials estimate the district will receive between $1.1 million and $1.2 million in yearly property tax revenue from Willow Springs.

 

With the addition of two engines, the district is improving its firefighting capability. They bought one and leased the other. The engines were demonstrators, which allowed Tri-State to get them for a lower price and with less advance notice than if they had to be built from scratch. One went into service Monday, the other is expected to be ready the week of April 25.

The units replaced a 16-year-old engine and two mini-squads. The new engines carry four times as much hose as the mini-squads and more than twice as much water. They also have greater pumping capacity.

thanks Dan

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Several injured during Kankakee fire, 4-13-16 (more)

Excerpts from ABC7Chicago.com:

Kankakee police say arson caused a fire last week that critically injured two children who later died.

In a statement released Monday, police said investigators have developed information on a person, who after being interviewed, is suspected of starting the fire at the apartment building. Authorities say investigators are interviewing the suspect and collecting evidence. They expect the Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s office to file formal charges in the near future.

Killed by the fire were 2-year-old Ju’shaun Watson, who was pronounced dead on Sunday at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, and 4-year-old Justice Stewart, who died Friday at Comer Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

A 65-year-old woman suffered smoke inhalation, a 25-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman suffered burns on their hands. Twenty were left homeless.

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New ambulance for Crete Township

From the Foster Coach Sales Facebook page:

Brand new custom Horton conversion on a Ford F450 4×4 chassis

Crete Township FPD ambulance

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Crete Township FPD ambulance

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Crete Township FPD ambulance

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ambulance interior

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ambulance interior

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chevron striping on rear of ambulance

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