Excerpts from the Herald-News.com:
The Homer Township Fire Protection District union is working to get a referendum on the November ballot that would allow district residents to elect their fire trustees.
Homer Township Professional Firefighters President David Curtis said union members voted unanimously in favor of the referendum. They would like to see trustees run for office so the union and taxpayers can communicate directly with those seeking a seat on the board and the union can endorse candidates, he said.
“We don’t have a voice with the current trustees,” Curtis said, clarifying that the union must communicate to the board through the fire chief and would like to be able to work with trustees directly.
The role of the district’s Board of Trustees is to supervise the chief, hire administrators, manage administrative accountability, and oversee finances and equipment purchasing, Curtis said. The fire trustees, who meet once a month, are appointed by the Homer Township Board of Trustees.
In order for the referendum to be placed on the Nov. 8 ballot, its proponents must get about 1,200 signatures – representing 10 percent of the district’s registered voters – supporting the change.
“So far, we haven’t met with any resistance,” he said, adding that many of the district’s neighboring fire agencies – including New Lenox, Lemont and Orland – have elected fire boards.
But according to Homer Township fire board Secretary Mark Lobes, there are also 11 appointed fire boards in Will County. He doesn’t have a stance on the referendum, but he would like to communicate directly with the firefighters union. He said the board learned of the referendum effort several weeks ago from Chief Bob Tutko, but has not yet spoken directly with a union representative about it.
“I’m just hoping for some communication from the union,” he said.
Lobes also said voter interest is represented in the appointee system, as the township trustees who choose the fire board are elected. He said the fire board is diverse and its members have a range of different jobs and backgrounds and always include residents of Lockport, Homer Glen and Homer Township to represent the geographic scope of the district.
According to Lobes, because the board is appointed, it is not politically motivated.
Homer Township Supervisor Pam Meyers said the township always has been open to public input about fire board appointees. “It don’t see anything wrong with the way it is,” she said. However, she also said she wouldn’t necessarily be opposed to a change.
Should the referendum be placed on the November ballot and approved by voters, residents would begin voting for fire trustees in 2017.
