Carpentersville Fire Department news

Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:

Carpentersville Fire Department Chief John Skillman is set to retire this spring, marking the end of a 29-year career with the department. Born and raised in Carpentersville, Skillman has held various leadership roles, including deputy fire chief, battalion chief, and lieutenant, before being appointed chief nearly a year ago, succeeding former Public Safety Director Al Popp.

The village has launched an external search for Skillman’s successor, who will be the third leader since longtime Chief John Schuldt retired in 2013. In addition to the leadership change, recent personnel actions have seen Deputy Chief Kevin Rynders removed from his position, which has now been "civilianized." While the reasons behind Rynders’ departure remain unclear, officials have chosen not to comment on the matter.

Once a new chief is selected, the village plans to conduct a comprehensive review of the fire department’s structure, including the future of the deputy chief role, according to Kathy Lamkin, interim director of human resources. The village also aims to reduce overtime expenses within the department.

GovHR USA, a recruitment firm, will screen applicants based on criteria provided by the village and present a shortlist of 10 to 15 candidates. The salary range for the position is between $125,000 and $155,000, depending on experience. Village Manager Mark Rooney emphasized the need for a strong, experienced leader who can align with the village board’s goals and foster better relations with the International Association of Firefighters Local 4790.

Rooney expressed hope that the new chief will bring about a cultural shift, helping to heal past tensions and move forward positively. Union President Rick Nieves noted that firefighters had generally maintained good relationships with both Skillman and Rynders, though there were occasional disagreements that were resolved professionally. However, he acknowledged that the relationship between the village and the union has often been strained, leaving the fire chief caught in the middle.

Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

Members of the Carpentersville International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4790 are expressing strong concerns over the March 23 announcement of two full-time firefighter layoffs, scheduled to take effect on April 22. The union had just begun contract negotiations with village officials when they received the news, according to Union President Lt. Rick Nieves.

"This is very unfortunate news for our members," Nieves said in a statement. "We've made a good-faith effort to reduce overtime costs by agreeing to flexible scheduling, but it seems the village didn't use it effectively. The union doesn’t control the overtime that was approved and budgeted for this fiscal year."

Village Manager Mark Rooney, who had not yet seen the union's release, declined to comment. Nieves highlighted that in 2014, the union and the village reached an agreement to implement a swing-shift system, allowing firefighters to cover shifts when others were off. At the time, the village stated that if the system worked well, no full-time firefighters would be laid off during the current collective bargaining agreement, which expires in 2016. In return, the union withdrew a grievance related to previous layoffs.

However, Nieves claims that the village opted out of the swing-shift program on the same day as the layoff notices were issued. This marks the second time firefighters have made concessions to address perceived staffing shortages, according to Nieves. He argued that the burden should not fall entirely on the union, noting that other village employees have received raises this year while firefighters face layoffs.

Nieves also pointed out that the village has a history of delaying replacements for injured or retiring staff, putting pressure on the already limited overtime budget. A recent staffing study commissioned by the village suggests that each of the three fire stations needs four firefighters. "We need to work together to adopt these recommendations," Nieves said. "We’ve always stepped up during crises, including financial ones. With the loss of a deputy chief, administrative assistant, and now the fire chief, our members—many of whom live in Carpentersville—feel there’s no real financial reason for these layoffs, despite what the village president has said."

Thanks, Dan

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