Wood Dale firefighters have 'no confidence' in chief

This morning's roll call at the Wood Dale Fire Protection District could be an awkward time for several of the city's firefighters and officials.

At a recent union meeting, Wood Dale firefighters cast a unanimous "no confidence" vote in Fire Chief Thomas Flanagan.

Tuesday evening, they shared that vote with Flanagan and the district's three-member board of trustees. Trustees, however, immediately backed Flanagan unwaveringly.

Union officials, backed by dozens of Illinois Association of Fire Fighters members from across the suburbs, asked trustees to act on the union's "no confidence" vote.

"As you are aware after various discussions we have had, for some time now (union members) have complained about the conduct of Chief Flanagan," local union vice president William Loch said. "As the elected officials who cover this fire protection district … we are seeking fair and common ground concerning multiple issues which we have so far been unable to achieve under our current chief, including the closing of a fire house, cutting our manning and culminating with the illegal demotion of our union president (firefighter Bob Cortese).

Several issues have been raised between the ranks, but union representatives said the "last straw" came several weeks ago when former Lt. Bob Cortese was demoted to the ranks of firefighter/paramedic and took a $7,000 annual pay cut.

Prior to Tuesday's meeting, state union president Tom Willis said the popular 15-year veteran was demoted earlier this year for publicly criticizing Flanagan's plan to temporarily close the district's southernmost station as the district dealt with budget and staffing issues.

Following a closed session of the meeting, when Flanagan was given a chance to respond to Loch's allegations, the firefighters staged a walkout, clearing the room of all but a few spectators. Several firefighters said later the walkout was not planned prior to the meeting.

In his response, Flanagan defended his decision to temporarily close station 1, saying citizens were never at risk and defended the district's fiscal responsibility. He declined to address Cortese's discipline, calling it a confidential manner.

"The district funds are allocated not only to personnel and employee benefits but also to purchasing life safety equipment as well as maintaining the district's fire stations," Flanagan told a nearly empty meeting room. "With more than $3.1 million out of a $4.3 million annual budget devoted to employee salaries, insurance and other benefits, the district continues to maintain fiscal responsibility with its remaining dollars."

Board President Wally Takoy ended Tuesday's meeting with support for Flanagan and dismissing the union's recent vote.

"We, as the elected trustees of this district, have the utmost trust and confidence in Chief Flanagan and fully support his decisions and leadership," Takoy said. "We will continue to steadfastly support Chief Flanagan in guaranteeing the provision of the highest quality of and most responsible fire services for the residents of the district."

Cortese was at Tuesday's meeting but declined to comment. Union attorney Lisa Moss was also at the meeting but declined to comment prior to the meeting. She was unavailable, however, after the walkout.