Excerpts from the NWHerald.com:
Former Fire Chief Ken Caudle continues to earn a salary while the Huntley Fire Protection District conducts an ongoing investigation into something officials won’t talk about.
Huntley Fire Protection District board members did not share any information about Caudle’s status at Tuesday’s board meeting. Trustees met in closed session where attorney Joe Miller gave updates.
Miller said the board is looking into some matters, and when it is an appropriate time for things to come out, it will be known to the public at that time. He advised the board to not speak about any current or former employees.
Caudle continues to receive a salary of $119,240 while on leave, Acting Chief Scott Ravagnie previously told the Northwest Herald.
Caudle submitted a letter of resignation as chief to the board Aug. 11. He returned to his last commissioned rank of battalion chief and was placed on paid administrative leave “pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation,” according to Huntley Fire Protection District documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.
In Caudle’s letter of resignation, he wrote that after a long discussion with his family, he set a retirement date for Nov. 10, 2019. Caudle’s current contract expires April 30, 2020. Caudle has been with the district since 1998 and served as chief for five years.
Former Trustee Joseph Mahoney of Algonquin asked whether Caudle still was on the payroll, which Miller would not answer.
Former Deputy Chief Keith Mallegni asked whether Caudle was being paid while sitting at home and whether there was an investigation ongoing.
“How long is this process going to take? Because the way I understand it is they are trying to wait for the next two years so he gets his 20-year pension,” Mallegni said.
The next scheduled meeting is Nov. 28.
