Excerpts from Shawlocal.com:
Harvard Fire Protection District Chief Lawrence Kane resigned during a closed meeting Tuesday. He was hired in early 2020. He said his contract was up and when board members met with him in closed session to talk about the contract, he told them he was resigning instead of signing on for a third year.
In the resignation letter, he said he is thankful for the opportunities and experiences during his last two years as chief.
In a statement issued Thursday afternoon, Harvard fire officials said they were in the process of finding a new chief. Lt. Mike Veronese will serve as the district’s point person to ensure continued operations of the district until a new chief is hired.
Board President Roger Hugg also resigned as president of the board effective immediately. He will serve out the remainder of his term as a trustee until May 2022 when the newly elected trustees take office. The board will elect a new president at a special meeting scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Kane said he decided to resign because he had a full-time job as a firefighter in Glenview and two part-time jobs, one as an adjunct faculty at McHenry County Community College and fire chief in Harvard. One of the part-time jobs had to go and he decided it was the Harvard position. He said as a group working together in Harvard, they streamlined emergency services and turned the budget around.
The Harvard Fire Protection District was roiled in controversy just four years ago when the previous fire chief, Steve Harter, and Deputy Fire Chief Don Davidson were slapped with suspensions, stemming from a letter that called the conduct of trustee and board secretary Joe Clarke unprofessional and hostile.
thanks Rob
