An additional perspective on pensions

I appreciate Jake Griffin's front page story on fire chiefs collecting pensions as well as salaries. I felt he did a very good job of pointing out the pension dilemma and the ability to collect two pensions. Further, I would like to add I agree with state Rep. Wehrli's effort to stop the double pensions, as he did with police personnel. I would hope he has the good sense to extend this to public school personnel, from superintendents on down to teachers.

The point I would like to make, however, is that hiring a retired fire department officer or chief for many jurisdictions makes very good sense. I can speak from the experience of serving six years on the Villa Park Board of Fire and Police Commissioners.

The village hired Chief Ron Rakosnik, a retiring fire officer from Lombard, as the Villa Park chief approximately seven years ago. I worked with Ron weekly over six years and can honestly say I have never worked with a finer person. His knowledge, professionalism, fairness and honesty is above reproach and unmatched in the public sector. He has turned our department around for the better, and I am proud to be associated with Ron and the entire staff of professional firefighters/paramedics in Villa Park.

Ron and his staff are worth every penny they earn in their salary and the pensions they have earned.

Al Gorski

Villa Park