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Barrington village determines new FD staffing model
The Barrington Village Board convened last night, drawing a large crowd of residents eager to hear the latest developments regarding the local fire department. One of the key topics on the agenda was a proposed staffing plan for the Barrington Fire Department, effective January 1, 2014, when the existing agreement with the Barrington & Countryside Fire Protection District is set to expire. The Barrington Courier-Review has published a detailed report covering the new staffing structure and the heated discussions that took place during the meeting.
In a major decision, the Barrington Village Board voted unanimously on Monday to lay off 19 firefighter-paramedics at the end of the year. This move comes as a result of the termination of a long-standing intergovernmental agreement that had allowed the village department and the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District to collaborate over an area spanning more than 50 square miles.
The decision was made to cut operational costs related to personnel and equipment, while also managing future insurance and pension obligations. As part of this shift, Barrington will now focus solely on its five-square-mile territory, while the protection district will continue to serve the surrounding 46 square miles.
With a 7-0 vote, the board officially approved a plan to reduce the department’s size to 19 firefighter-paramedics starting next year. Village President Karen Darch emphasized that while the new staffing model costs slightly more than minimal staffing, it represents a worthwhile investment in public safety and additional services. She also highlighted the long-term benefit of reducing the financial burden on taxpayers, particularly in terms of rising pension and disability payments for employees who previously served outside the village.
Darch noted an $80,000 annual difference between the two staffing options, and the board ultimately chose to retain 19 staff members, resulting in 19 layoffs. Fire Chief Jim Arie added that the enhanced EMS capabilities would allow the department to respond more efficiently to emergency medical calls, reducing response times and improving service quality.
Before the vote, several residents and community stakeholders expressed their concerns, urging the board to reconsider the decision. Char McLear, a retired assistant fire chief, criticized the move as politically motivated rather than fiscally responsible, calling it an “arrogant and self-serving attack†on the fire department.
In response to the layoffs, the protection district has indicated interest in hiring some of the affected firefighters through Paramedic Services of Illinois (PSI), a private company. However, those hired by PSI may face challenges related to their pension plans.
Village officials have been discussing the separation since 2012, due to ongoing disagreements over hiring practices and equipment purchases. Despite these changes, the fire department will maintain its automatic aid agreements with other departments, including Lake Zurich, Palatine Rural, and Long Grove, and will remain part of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System.
For more information and additional perspectives on this issue, you can read more here and here.