Posts Tagged Tri-State Fire Protection District

Tri-State FPD begins search for new chief

Nov 20

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | 3 Comments

The Tri-State Fire Protection District will be looking for a new fire chief after Jack Mancione stepped down earlier this month with 18 months left on his contract, said Eric Habercoss, president of the district’s board of trustees. The board appointed Battalion Chief Patrick Brenn acting fire chief at its Monday meeting.

The Tri-State district provides fire protection services to parts of Burr Ridge, Darien, Willowbrook, Willow Springs and unincorporated DuPage County.

Mancione had been chief following the retirement of Chief Michelle Gibson in February 2014. Gibson’s retirement agreement was criticized by the Better Government Association because it called for paying her $115,000 for unused sick, vacation and personal days and an additional $22,000.

The terms of Mancione’s retirement agreement, which the board approved Nov. 16, will not be released until after Mancione has received a copy, which is expected to happen Monday, the district’s administrative assistant said.

Habercoss said he believes the agreement is fair and reasonable. The terms were based on Mancione’s contract, which was approved before Habercoss was elected to the Tri-State Board in April.

A week after Mancione retired, Deputy Fire Chief William Just also retired.

In the past four months, the Edgar County Watchdog website has criticized Mancione for not documenting donations of used fire district equipment and releasing personal health information about employees as part of a response to a FOIA request. Mancione did not respond to a request for comment.

Habercoss said the district is checking with an executive recruiting firm and the Illinois Association of Fire Chiefs to find out the costs of getting outside help with the search for a new chief. Habercoss said the board wants a chief who will clean up the administration and modernize the administration, policies, and procedures.

The district has drawn increased scrutiny since the Better Government Association reported last year that despite Gibson and a district trustee, Julie Strenzel, being in a civil union and raising a family together, Strenzel did not recuse herself from votes on Gibson’s salary, benefits, and retirement agreement. Strenzel ran for re-election April 7, but lost to Habercoss.

Hamilton Gibbons, who was president of the board when Gibson retired, subsequently stepped down. Bob Jewell was chosen to replace Gibbons. Further change occurred in August when Trustee Mike Orrico said he was no longer living in the district and resigned. The remaining two trustees interviewed five candidates and selected Joseph Wolski to fill Orrico’s spot.

Responding to residents’ call for an expanded board, the board has voted to expand the number of district trustees from three to five. The district received differing legal opinions about when the board expansion could occur. Habercross favors waiting for them to be chosen in the April 2017 election.

The board at its Nov. 16 meeting also instructed the district’s Board of Fire Commissioners to proceed with the hiring of three new firefighters.

“We seem to be moving in the right direction,” Habercoss said.

Tags: Battalion Chief Patrick Brenn, Chief Michelle Gibson, Deputy Fire Chief William Just, Tri-State Fire Chief Jack Mancione, Tri-State Fire Protection District, Tri-State FPD

Tri-State FPD chief retires

Nov 7

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | 7 Comments

From a letter to the MABAS 10 chiefs:

Please see below from our friends at Tri-State

Subject: Chief Jack L. Mancione retires

This email comes with mixed feelings as we announce the retirement of Chief Jack L. Mancione. Jack has had a 30 year career in the fire service, and he has decided that the time has come to retire.

Chief Mancione has worked his way through the ranks to an accomplished and recognized Chief Officer that has received several life safety and civic awards as well as the respect of his Community.

Jack has contributed thirty years of experience to our Fire District, and his achievements will not be forgotten. Please join us in wishing him the best in the next steps of his journey.

March 4, 1985 – November 6^th, 2015

Congratulations Chief!

Tags: Tri-State Fire Chief Jack Mancione, Tri-State Fire Protection District, Tri-State FPD chief resigns

Tri-State FPD back in the news (more)

Aug 19

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | 2 Comments

Excerpts from the edgarcountywatchdogs.com:

We received word … from Eric Habercross, a Tri State FPD Trustee, that a resignation letter was submitted by Micheal Orrico on August 12th, 2015, three days after being exposed of his illegally holding office.

Maybe now after years of controversy within this department they can move forward and continue to weed out the bad and rise up to what most fire departments are known for: community service.

thanks Dan & Scott

Tags: Eric Habercross, Tri-State Fire Protection District, Tri-State Fire Protection District Board of Trustees, Tri-State FPD Trustee Michael Orrico

Summit may consolidate with Bedford Park FD

Aug 15

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | 4 Comments

Excerpts from the desplainesvalleynews.com:

Summit is considering consolidating its fire and emergency services with the Village of Bedford Park, a move that village officials said would improve service and save taxpayers up to $200,000 per year while maintaining the same level of service.

The move is scheduled to be discussed at the Summit Village Board meeting on Monday, said Mayor Sergio Rodriguez. It will take place at 7 p.m. at the village board meeting room at the Summit Police Department at 5810 S. Archer Road.

Rodriguez praised the 40 part-time firefighters who work for the Summit Fire Department, but he said the cost of maintaining the aging fleet of emergency response vehicles and fire trucks was high. He said they are facing a major equipment expense of more than $740,000 to purchase a new truck, firefighting gear and equipment including air packs.

“Our fire engines are approximately 19 to 29 years old and the maintenance costs for these engines total around $50,000 a year. While facing these difficult decisions one must consider balancing consolidation against the oppressive taxation required to maintain the services in our community, especially when we expect fire and emergency response to continue at the highest level of service,” he said. “The cost of new equipment, a fire truck, and ambulance would be the responsibility of Bedford Park. These savings would be used to address the village’s aging infrastructure, encourage economic development and bolster the village’s cash reserves”.

Rodriguez added that government consolidation has proved effective in dozens of communities facing mounting costs but has resulted in improved and enhanced services. The overall cost savings would be $200,000 the first year in personnel and operational costs.

Willow Springs in the fall of 2013 disbanded its part-time fire department and joined the Tri-State Fire Protection District, which immediately took over the Willow Springs Fire Station. Justice did something similar a few years ago when it joined the Roberts Park Fire Protection District.

“Residents will not see one difference in the emergency response to fire calls and emergencies,” Rodriguez said. “In fact, I expect that consolidating will not only save money for taxpayers, but maintain the level of service that the residents have come to expect.”

Rodriguez said the Bedford Fire Department has a fire rating of 2 compared to the Summit Fire Department’s rating of 6. The lower the rating the better.

He said the village had done its part in the past several years to cut costs by going to a part-time chief that saved more than $100,000 annually, but even with that the cost of running the department has continue to increase.

“The Village of Bedford Park would supply Summit with all up-to-date fire equipment, fire engines and highly trained personnel at a substantial amount of savings, with no need to buy any expensive vehicles or equipment.

“There would still be full-time paramedics housed at all times at the Summit Fire Station, and they will have the full support of the Bedford Park Fire Department. This combining of resources will also benefit Bedford Park, as they will be adding an additional ambulance to the fleet and would be available to serve their community as well.”

Rodriguez said combining fire services would have minimal effect on the majority of the firefighters who have other full-time jobs.

Bedford Park said its fire department would hire six new firefighter/paramedics if the deal was approved.

The Bedford Park Fire Station closest to Summit is at Roberts Road and Archer Avenue.

thanks Martin

Tags: Bedford Park Fire Department, Roberts Park Fire Protection District, Summit Fire Department, Summit may consolidate with Bedford Park FD, Tri-State Fire Protection District

Tri-State FPD back in the news (more)

Aug 11

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | 1 Comment

Form the edgarcountywatchdogs.com:

I closed our last article on the Tri-State Fire Protection District with this statement:  “Stay tuned for some pretty amazing exposure yet to come!”   (Click here for previous article)

I think amazing is an understatement. Mr. Orrico has once again proven that old saying that if it looks and smells like a rat, it must be a rat. Turns out Mr. Orrico is violating yet another law and is no longer even legally a trustee!

In order to be a trustee of a fire district you have to be an “inhabitant” of the district. What is the common legal definition of inhabitant?   One who resides actually and permanently in a given place, and has his domicile there, says Blacks Law Dictionary.

So why shouldn’t Mr. Orrico be a Trustee at Tri State FPD? Because he lives in Joliet, Illinois. On April 21, 2015, Mr. Orrico purchased a house in Joliet with his name clearly on the deed.  (Click here for copy of the Deed)

Property tax records reflect his primary residence is at the Joliet address by the fact he received the $6,000.00 homeowners exemption on his tax bill which is applied if you claim it as your primary residence.  (Click here for copy of property tax records with exemption highlighted)

The property he owns in the Fire District, where he told the DuPage County voter registration people he lived, may be another concern depending on timing. The name on that mailbox sure doesn’t say Orrico. The Dupage County recorder shows he still owns the property, but he did not claim a homeowners exemption on that property.  (Click here for DuPage county tax records)

Fire district trustee is not a popular job so one must ask, why did Mr. Orrico want this job in the first place? A contract for his company for three ambulances seems like a good start. Perhaps his well known chummy relationship with the Chief has played a role that benefits them both? Regardless, one thing is for sure, Mr. Orrico is no longer a trustee of the fire district as of April 21, 2015 and any action he took since that date should be closely reviewed for possible legal concerns.

The Fire Protection District Act is very clear.  (70 ILCS 705/5) Whenever a member of the elected board of trustees of a fire protection district ceases to be an inhabitant of the district, his or her office shall become immediately vacant.

Not only does the Fire Protection District Act spell this out, so too does the Election Code.  (10 ILCS 5/25-2)   Sec. 25-2. Events on which an elective office becomes vacant. Every elective office shall become vacant on the happening of any of the following events before the expiration of the term of such office:
(1) The death of the incumbent.
(2) His or her resignation.
(3) His or her becoming a person under legal disability.
(4) His or her ceasing to be an inhabitant of the State; or if the office is local, his or her ceasing to be an inhabitant of the district,

So it is very clear, Mr. Orrico is no longer a trustee for the Tri-State FPD, thus a vacancy exists! If he claims otherwise he can explain to the Will County authorities why he committed fraud in applying for the homeowners exemption.

May we suggest his access to the facility be terminated immediately and his keys recovered as to further protect the citizens from any possible future malfeasance.

And once again, Stay tuned for more amazing exposure yet to come that may well lead to the removal of yet another official.

thanks Scott

Tags: fire district trustee lives outside the district, Tri-State Fire Protection District, Tri-State Fire Protection District Board of Trustees, Tri-State FPD Trustee Michael Orrico

Tri-State FPD back in the news

Aug 10

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | 1 Comment

Excerpts from EdgarCountyWatchdogs.com:

The Tri-State Fire Protection District came to our attention after our work at COD was off and running. Numerous requests for assistance hit our in box, and after reviewing a series of articles by the Better Government Association we knew there would be more! (BGA Article).

Those articles showed the public the improper use of taxpayer money, the conflict of the trustee giving her civil union partner promotions and benefits, and brought into question how equipment was purchased. We were able to take some time to FOIA documentation from the district based on input from local citizens on the relationship of a board member to the purchase of several ambulances both new and used. What we found appears to be a clear violation of the state ethics policy and the fire protection district act by Mr. Michael Orrico, the board treasurer.

In September of last year, Tri-State put out an RFP, not a request for bids, for two new ambulances. A number of qualified companies sent in offers to provide the ambulances like Foster Coach ($181,150 per ambulance) and Alexis Fire ($161,935 per ambulance) and Fire Services, Inc. (about $164,000 per ambulance), however it appears all of these were sent in by email and were not sealed.

After the RFP for two ambulances were put out, the agent for Fire Services, Inc. offered a used ambulance to the district for about $170,000. That ambulance was later bought for $167,965. This ambulance was not bid out and was not part of the published RFP process, but somehow this USED ambulance cost more than a new ambulance.

After initial quotes being placed by all three companies, only one company was considered, Fire Services, Inc. Final offers from Fire Services, Inc. were made on the ambulances without a Stryker power loader for a 2013 chassis Wheeled Coach ambulance for $166,087 and for a 2015 chassis Wheeled Coach ambulance for $169,702.

On a side note, the agent for Fire Services, Inc talked directly to Mike Orrico about a hood issue with the paint in January of 2015 on the used ambulance.

Final invoices for the two ambulances were issued early this year. On February 20, 2015 Fire Services, Inc. invoiced $162,587 for a 2015 chassis ambulance, and on May 26, 2015 Fire Services, Inc. invoiced $166,202 for a 2015 chassis ambulance. The district also purchased a no-bid USED ambulance from Fire Services, Inc. for a total of three ambulances on a two ambulance RFP.

Now where this gets even more interesting is with the discovery that that one of the trustees works for the company that eventually sold the ambulances to the district.

Mr. Michael Orrico sells fire equipment for Fire Service, Inc. What did he say about his employment in his Economic Disclosure Statement for his trustee position (page 55 of the pdf below)? Not a word:

“Except for professional service entities, the name of any entity and any position held therein from which income in excess of $1,200 was derived during the preceding calendar year if the entity does business with a unit of local government in relation to which the person is required to file.”

Mr. Orrico said N/A.

What is the consequence for nondisclosure?

(5 ILCS 420/4A-107) Any person required to file a statement of economic interests under this Article who willfully files a false or incomplete statement shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

Did he mention his relationship with the company as required by law under the Illinois Fire Protection District Act? Nope. My review of all the online minutes show he didn’t say anything at the time the RFP’s were put out or when they were reviewed. He blatantly violated 70 ILCS 705/4 by not paying attention to the below:

“No trustee or employee of such district shall be directly or indirectly interested financially in any contract work or business or the sale of any article, the expense, price or consideration of which is paid by the district; nor in the purchase of any real estate or other property, belonging to the district, or which shall be sold for taxes or assessments or by virtue of legal process at the suit of the district.”

There are exemptions to this rule which are all inclusive but none apply to Mr. Orrico:

A. The award of the contract is approved by a majority vote of the board of trustees of the fire protection district provided that any such interested member shall abstain from voting; (NO VOTE TAKEN according to available minutes)

B. the amount of the contract does not exceed $1000; (WELL OVER $1000)

C. the award of the contract would not cause the aggregate amount of all such contracts so awarded to the same person, firm, association, partnership, corporation, or cooperative association in the same fiscal year to exceed $2000; (WELL OVER $2000)

D. such interested member publicly discloses the nature and extent of his interest prior to or during deliberations concerning the proposed award of the contract; (NO DISCLOSURE ON PUBLIC RECORD)

E. such interested member abstains from voting on the award of the contract, though he shall be considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum. (DID NOT ABSTAIN SINCE BOARD DIDN’T VOTE ON THIS CONTRACT according to available minutes)

Did he abstain from voting for the purchase of these two ambulances? That one is a little more sticky since this board doesn’t appear to vote for large ticket items in open session. Not one discussion was had in the months before or after the bids were taken on approving a major equipment purchase. Perhaps that was to cover for Mr. Orrico’s conflict, I don’t know. (Link to all those minutes)

What are the consequences of Mr. Orrico’s acts:

“Any officer or employee who violates this Section is guilty of a Class 4 felony and in addition thereto any office held by such person so convicted shall become vacant and shall be so declared as part of the judgment of the court.”

How did the lawyers for the district allow this to happen on their watch?

Probably because the district uses the same law firm as the College of DuPage was using under Breuders watch! (Attorney for Tri-State FPD)

Stay tuned for some pretty amazing exposure yet to come!

You can see the paper trail on this article below or download.

Download (PDF, 1.73MB)

thanks Dan and Scott

Tags: Better Government Association, Tri-State Fire Protection District, Tri-State FPD Trustee Michael Orrico

Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation awards local grants

Jul 8

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News, Fire Service News | 1 Comment

Excerpts from FirehouseSubs.com:

In 2005, the Firehouse Subs Public Safety FoundationFirehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation was created with the mission of providing funding, life-saving equipment and educational opportunities to emergency personnel and public safety organizations. Many make do with older equipment and have limited or no access to needed resources, but the Foundation has given $13 million to hometown heroes in 43 states and Puerto Rico, benefiting more than 1,000 public safety organizations in communities across the nation. In the state of Illinois, more than $417,000 has been donated since 2012, and in almost all instances, the awarded tools would otherwise be unavailable.

Continuing its mission of supporting local heroes, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation [awarded] $190,000 worth of equipment to nine Chicago public safety organizations during a press conference on May 19, 2015 … at the Robert J. Quinn Fire Academy.

The following nine departments were awarded equipment.

•             Chicago Fire Department received two off-road ambulance vehicles worth more than $55,800.

•             Chicago Police Department 17th District received two automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) worth more than $2,000.

•             Chicago Police Memorial Foundation received 41 bulletproof vests worth more than $20,000.

•             Mokena Fire Protection District received an all-terrain vehicle worth more than $16,700.

•             Waukegan Fire Protection District received eight sets of firefighting turnout gear worth more than $19,600.

•             Lemont Fire Protection District received an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) worth more than $19,800.

•             Frankfort Fire Protection District received an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) worth more than $14,600.

•             Tri-State Fire Protection District received a water rescue boat worth more than $19,900.

•             Mount Prospect Fire Department received 27 automatic external defibrillator (AEDs) worth more than $21,000.

To raise money for the Foundation, Firehouse Subs restaurants participate in a number of fundraising efforts. Each restaurant recycles leftover, five-gallon pickle buckets and sells them to guests for $2. Donation canisters on register counters collect spare change, while the Round Up Program allows guests to “round up” their bill to the nearest dollar. Grant allocations are made possible thanks to the overwhelming support of Firehouse Subs restaurants and generous donors.

thanks Jay

Tags: Chicago Fire Department, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, Lemont Fire Protection District, Mokena Fire Protection District, Mount Prospect FIre Department, Tri-State Fire Protection District, Waukegan FIre Chief Dan Young

BGA has more to say about the Tri-State FPD

Jun 23

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | Comments off

Excerpts from the Bettergov.org Investigator’s Blog:

New board leadership recently took the helm at the embattled Tri-State Fire Protection District – but not without problems.

A newly elected trustee who ran on a campaign of reform is raising concerns about transparency and accountability within the west suburban district, one of the largest agencies of its kind in the state.

Back in April’s election, Eric Habercoss unseated longtime Tri-State trustee Jill Strenzel, who for years had been voting on the salary and benefits of her civil union partner, former Tri-State Fire Chief Michelle Gibson. (Gibson exited the district last year, taking with her a retirement package worth more than $136,000 – a deal that was also approved by Strenzel.)

Shortly after the election, another longtime trustee, Hamilton “Bo” Gibbons, resigned, saying it was “time for a change.”

To replace him, the board called for a special meeting on May 13 and appointed Bob Jewell, who was president of Tri-State’s board of commissioners, which handles the hiring and testing of rank-and-file employees. (That’s as opposed to the Tri-State board of trustees, which oversees district finances.)

The move irked Habercoss, who felt the board rushed the process to make a decision before he was to take office on May 18.

“I’m being sworn in Monday. This appointment could have been made then,” Habercoss said during the public comment portion of the special meeting. “However, the process was forced through to keep me from participating.”

Jewell and Strenzel could not be immediately reached while Trustee Mike Orrico declined to publicly comment.

Later, on May 18, at his first official meeting as a trustee, Habercoss outlined a number of his additional concerns with the district, including the transparency surrounding a recent ambulance purchase and access to public records.

Tri-State Fire Chief Jack Mancione said the district has never been “as transparent as it is now” and that he’s looking forward to moving on from the district’s past controversies.

But Habercoss said he’s seeing a lot of the same problems that were apparent under the old regime.

In one recent, and somewhat familiar, incident, the police became involved – again – in a matter having to do with Tri-State’s closed-session meeting tapes.

It started when Strenzel, prior to leaving office, hadn’t turned in her key to the district safe that contains tapes and other records.

Then, on May 20, Habercoss contacted the police after he learned the safe had been opened while Strenzel and Mancione took an inventory of what was inside, according to a police report.

“My concern is that two civilians without any trustee present had access to private and confidential closed-session tapes, which may very well pertain to them,” Habercoss said.

Meetings can be closed off to the public when trustees discuss certain sensitive information such as litigation and personnel matters, but those sessions are recorded.

Mancione said there had been no wrongdoing.

“It was as simple as that. We opened the door, I confirmed her key worked and confirmed there was something in there,” he said.

According to the police report, the “case requires no police action and the report is for documentation purposes only.” The case has since been closed.

As we reported previously, Burr Ridge police responded to a reported burglary in 2013 at Tri-State when Strenzel said someone broke into a district safe containing tapes and then asked what should be done if the recordings had been erased “using a magnet.”

Police were called back again that night to “move items from a compromised safe to a new safe,” records show. You can read more about that incident here.

For other past stories on Tri-State, which provides taxpayer-financed firefighting and emergency medical services to parts of Burr Ridge, Darien, Willowbrook, Willow Springs and unincorporated DuPage County, please see:

Under Fire

Suburban fire chief resigns amid mounting questions about her agency’s finances and leadership. But she’s not leaving empty-handed – she collects a lucrative exit package.

Hey Rig Spender

Suburban fire department claims tight finances – but spends freely on pricey fire trucks, meals and various perks.

Are Taxpayers Getting Burned?

Top officials at suburban fire department get hefty pay raises just as they retire – creating a pension windfall that could cost local residents an extra $1.5 million.

A Burning Conflict

Fire district trustee votes on fire chief’s pay, benefits. Only problem: they live together.

Not All Government Consolidations Work

Should the district be expanding and taking on more responsibilities when its own financial house isn’t in order?

Tags: Eric Habercoss, Tri-State Fire Chief Jack Mancione, Tri-State Fire Protection District, Tri-State FPD Trustee Jill Strenzel

New trustee elected to Tri-State FPD board

May 5

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | 1 Comment

Excerpts from the Chicagotribune.com:

Residents in the Tri-State Fire Protection District sent a strong message for change. Eric Habercoss was the runaway winner in the three-person race, earning 53 percent of the vote, nearly doubling the next closest candidate

“I think it says voters are tired of business as usual in Tri-State,” Habercoss said. “I plan to clean up the district, I wrote my action plan months before I ever announced I was running and I never deviated from it.”

When taking into account that the second-place candidate was another supporter of reform, more than 80 percent of voters opted for someone other than incumbent Julie Strenzel, who has been embroiled in controversy. Strenzel did not respond to phone calls or emails to discuss her candidacy during the campaign. No information could be found online promoting Strenzel’s campaign.

Strenzel has been under the microscope of the Better Government Association for moves she has made during her tenure on the board. The BGA reported last year that Strenzel is in a civil union and raising a family with former Tri-State Chief Michelle Gibson, but still voted to approve a retirement agreement that paid the former chief about $136,000 for unused sick days and vacation time.

Strenzel is also on record for approving late-career pension spikes for two other former chiefs, as well as an assistant chief. By approving salary jumps for the employees before they left the fire district, the retired workers are eligible for higher pension payments.

Unofficial vote totals, with all Tri-State precincts reporting Tuesday night, show Habercoss with 2,406 votes followed by Matthew Goodwin with 1,218 votes. Strenzel trailed with 895 votes.

thanks Dan

Tags: Julie Strenzel, Tri-State Chief Michelle Gibson, Tri-State Fire Protection District, Tri-State Fire Protection District Board of Trustees