Carpentersville Fire Department news (more)

As contract talks continue, two firefighters from Carpentersville are set to be laid off this month, with more potential cuts possibly coming in other village departments, according to officials.

Representatives of the union that supports the village’s 33 full-time firefighters have raised concerns that reducing staffing below optimal levels could compromise fire safety and may actually lead to higher overtime costs in the long run.

Rick Nieves, president of the Carpentersville Professional Firefighters Union, IAFF Local 4790, stated, “We've made a good-faith effort to cut overtime by agreeing to flexible scheduling during manpower shortages. Unfortunately, the village didn’t use it effectively. The swing shift program, introduced in 2014 as a way to manage staffing gaps, was meant to help reduce costs during tough times.”

Village Manager Mark Rooney explained that the swing shift model didn’t deliver the expected $75,000 annual savings, which had been a condition for avoiding firefighter layoffs. Since 2010, the village has reduced its full-time staff from 207 to 174 through reorganization, layoffs, and not filling certain positions.

Rooney noted that the fire department has only lost one full-time firefighter during this period, but the current budget deficit of $800,000—driven by rising labor, healthcare, and pension costs—necessitates further reductions.

Other departments may also face cuts. In May, the village will begin negotiations with the union representing 19 civilian employees. Officials are also using attrition to cut costs, such as replacing a police commander position with a civilian employee who earns less and doesn’t receive benefits.

Last year, the village projected a $500,000 deficit but ended the year with a surplus. If sales tax revenues and state funding improve, the deficit could shrink significantly, according to Rooney.

Nieves criticized the decision to lay off firefighters while other employees, including Rooney, received raises. Rooney’s salary increased by 5.5% last year, bringing his total to around $167,000 as of January 1, 2015.

Nieves pointed to a recent consolidation study, funded in part by the village, which showed that each of the three fire stations should have four firefighters. However, Station 91, located at 213 Spring St., often operates with just three firefighters to handle an ambulance, engine, and truck.

Rooney insists that public safety won’t be compromised, stating that any shortfalls will be covered by nine part-time employees. “It’s only on a minority of days or nights that we don’t have four firefighter/paramedics in each station,” he said.

Both sides are scheduled to return to the negotiating table on April 20 in an attempt to avoid the layoffs, which are set to take effect on April 22, and to reach a new agreement before the current contract expires at the end of the month.

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