Carol Stream fire forced to rehire lieutenant

A Carol Stream fire lieutenant who was dismissed last year will be offered his job back after an arbitrator ruled the department released him without going through proper disciplinary steps.

Carol Stream Professional Firefighters Association President Rick Bonk said Wednesday the union successfully argued to overturn the March 2009 firing of Lt. Jim Wellwood.

A return date has not been set as Wellwood considers his future with the department.

Chief Rick Kolomay said the department has offered Wellwood about $100,000 in back pay and is negotiating other financial terms of a possible agreement. He said the talks will continue when Bonk returns from a previously scheduled vacation.

Bonk said the union argued the department had no just cause to fire Wellwood and moved too quickly through outlined discipline procedures.

"They went too fast," Bonk said. "Every day there was something new. There wasn't time to make any corrective measures to correct the behavior and come in line."

The 21-year veteran was fired during then-Chief Mike Kanzia's final year at the helm after Wellwood committed what Bonk called "minor infractions that did not justify termination." Neither he nor Kolomay specified the infractions.

As a result of arbitration, Wellwood's termination was reduced to a 30-day suspension and his previous suspension will now be on his record as a written reprimand, Bonk said.

"We're working out what his duties will be in getting him acclimated," he said. Bonk also said Wellwood has brought up a possible retirement.

Kolomay stressed the $100,000 is not a final number.

"Those are working numbers still in a state of flux," he said, noting the discussions have been held in closed session meetings whose minutes have not been approved."We don't have final numbers yet."

He said he expects final figures within a month.