Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:
La Grange welcomed a new fire chief Monday as Terrence Vavra was sworn in to the position. Vavra, who replaces the retiring Donald Gay, was selected after the village employed the services of GovHR, who narrowed the search down to six individuals, who were then assessed and evaluated by village staff and at least one village board member.
His starting salary will $118,500 per year, and he will receive the same medical/health insurance and retirement benefits as other village employees. He has no contract, and is an “at will” employee who serves at the pleasure of the village, meaning his employment might be terminated at any time, providing the reasons aren’t discriminatory.
Vavra holds a Bachelors of Arts degree from Western Illinois and a Masters Degree in Management and Organizational Behavior from Benedictine University.
His most recent position was the fire chief of Norwood Park. He has also served in leadership positions with the Buffalo Grove and Lisle-Woodridge fire departments.
#1 by Drew Smith on June 28, 2019 - 3:12 PM
To balance out the “all old chiefs are hacks argument”
CA Firefighters Union Says Chief Was Fired
Turlock Fire Chief Robert Talloni has been terminated, according to a Facebook post by the firefighters union that cited a dispute over service levels. The post by Turlock Firefighers Local 2434 said the chief has always worked with the rank-and-file employees to keep the public safe.
“Central to this fight has been the ongoing plot by bean counters in city hall scheming to reduce the number of firefighters protecting this city and gamble with public safety. Chief Talloni stood up against these dangerous schemes and continued to fight for your safety and the safety of Turlock Firefighters. Today Chief Talloni paid the price for that fight.”
https://www.firehouse.com/leadership/news/21086730/turlock-ca-fire-chief-terminated-service-level-dispute-firefighters?utm_source=FH+Newsday&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS190628009&o_eid=9442E1991723J0T&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C9442E1991723J0T&oly_enc_id=9442E1991723J0T
#2 by FFPM571 on June 27, 2019 - 8:58 PM
Terry has always been a Yes man for any Village or District he has worked at…Mayors/Managers and Fire boards like a guy like him…
#3 by Mike on June 27, 2019 - 2:00 PM
Scuba he learned from the best. Freeman drove LWFD right into the ground
#4 by CrabbyMilton on June 27, 2019 - 11:22 AM
In some ways you prove my point.
What kind of goofs do they have running some of these municipalities?
But my point is whether the candidate turns out good or bad, lack of accountability and just plain stupid people in city govt. is the secondary cause of messes like this but voters who pay no attention are the primary.
I still don’t want to begrudge anyone a job under these circumstance if they are qualified and have a great record.
If that makes any sense.
#5 by Scuba96 on June 27, 2019 - 9:35 AM
Mike – Very well said. Terry Vavra is nothing more than an ax man that likes to spend money. At both Buffalo Grove and Norwood Park he cut 3 Firefighter positions. He left Buffalo Grove millions of dollars in debt and tried to do the same at Norwood Park with very little to show for it. I’m sure he will not be missed at Norwood Park.
#6 by CrabbyMilton on June 27, 2019 - 9:11 AM
If they turn out to be lousy I would agree.
However, if someone earns a pension at their current job, then they have the right to collect it. Nothing illegal about that. Perhaps the problem falls with the commission that sets the rules rather then going after the person they hire.
I had a friend who’s father was an MPD cop. He retired with pension and got a job as a security guard at a private company for many years and retired. Nothing illegal about that. It’s called free enterprise.
Again, don’t blame the guy they hire but rather the people who set pension rules.
#7 by Mike on June 27, 2019 - 8:55 AM
Milton the issue is they play the chief jump around game. Them and their buddies all jump from place to place and do nothing positive for the organization all while collecting a pension from their real job and making the same amount of money from their new hobby job. This stifles organizations and keeps good internal candidates from moving up and actually moving an organization forward. It’s nothing more then being selfish. While these guys spend the next 5-7 years at their hobby job they work on turning that place upside down for the next guy when they come in Financially and morale wise. They left their real job because they maxed out their pension and didn’t want to pay 9.5% into a pension and get nothing in return. Now they opt out and put that 9.5 either into a deferred Comp or get into IMRF, which can go from place to place and they work on securing another pension.
#8 by CrabbyMilton on June 27, 2019 - 8:39 AM
I really don’t see what the problem is here. Sounds like he has the experience to do the job. If someone’s too young and lacking experience,that’s no good. If someone is “older” why that’s no good can’t have that.
So when people reach a certain age, are they expected to just lay on the couch for the rest of their life because people like you don’t like them?
#9 by Mike on June 26, 2019 - 11:05 PM
Great another chief that doesn’t know what the word retirement means. Come on guys retire and go away. Enjoy life, there’s more beyond the fire service.