Part 1: Barrington Countryside fire district sees split as necessary

NOTE TO READERS: This is part one of a three-part series on the pending split between the Barrington Fire Department and the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District. To explore the different perspectives on split, part one is from the perspective of the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District. Part two looks at village's side, and part three compiles the opinions of Barrington area residents and fire personnel.

The Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District is making a new name for itself.

The district – started 70 years ago as a volunteer force of merchants and farmers – is ending the intergovernmental agreement it has with the village of Barrington and as of Jan. 1 will operate as a separate entity.

"This is a rare opportunity," said Paul Heinze, a BCFPD trustee of 19 years. "Not many people witness a fire district being rebuilt."

The district historically has served Barrington Hills, South Barrington, Lake Barrington and Inverness and portions of unincorporated Cook, Lake and McHenry counties. Through its intergovernmental agreement with the village, the BCFPD gave the village money collected from Countryside residents through its fire tax and then purchased emergency fire and medical services from the Barrington Fire Department; the most recent agreement expires Dec. 31.

The split, BCFPD President Tom Rowan said, is ultimately due to the village’s refusal to hire additional personnel or purchase equipment for the district. Trustees intend to spend the next five months hiring staff, restructuring the district and working on finding a way to pay pensions for its own staff – a first for the district.

Rowan said when the district started its agreements decades ago with the village, firefighters and paramedics eventually were paid by the village – seemingly the most efficient way to handle fire support and paramedic services for both the Barrington and Barrington Countryside communities.

"It worked for us for quite a while when there was cooperation. I would not say it was outdated," he said. "We would have been happy to keep going with it, but we wanted to continue to improve service to our residents and we couldn't get the village to move on anything we proposed."

Tension boils

Differences began to emerge in 2008, when the BCFPD hired the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association to conduct a study of emergency response procedures and firefighter staffing levels. The IFCA's report, issued in 2010, recommended a personnelincrease from 3 to 5 firefighters/paramedics per shift at each of the district's stations in Barrington Hills and Lake Barrington.

The village disagreed with the study – and since the agreement between the two entities stipulated the village and district split operational costs, such as vehicle purchases and maintenance, and the village pays 35.75 percent of district personnel costs, the district could not add staff.

"We even offered to sign an agreement ensuring we would be responsible for new-hire legacy costs," Rowan said. "When the village denied us equipment and personnel, even at our own costs, we had to do something. They stonewalled us on everything that we felt was very important."

The BCFPD decided in August 2012 to split from the village.

In July, BCFPD trustees selected Paramedic Services of Illinois to provide professional firefighters/paramedics to serve the BCFPD beginning next year. The BCFPD will pay PSI with the same resident fire tax it has been using to pay the village.

The split will come at an undetermined cost for fire district's residents. BCFPD trustees they anticipate putting a pension levy proposal on the March primary ballot: If approved, it would create a new tax to cover pension costs for the district’s staff and go onto property tax bills in either 2014 or 2015.

The BCFPD said the amount the district would ask for per $100 of equalized assessed value may not be calculated until just two months before the pension levy proposal appears on ballots.

Rowan said the amount will depend on how many staff are hired as career employees, and that won't be known until they accept positions with the district in January.

Long said if the BCFPD hired staff without PSI, the district would have to provide a pension – something the BCFPD doesn't have enough time or funds for.

And, in order to hire PSI staff as career employees – which means they receive a pension – the Illinois General Assembly would have to approve legislation for a lateral transfer.

"We will only hire career employees if both the referendum for a pension levy and state legislation are approved," said Rowan, adding that those proposals likely will be sent out simultaneously.

If the pension levy proposal is rejected, the district will use a contract service for personnel.

Moving forward

BCFPD consultants and PSI met the week of July 22 to determine a salary and benefits proposal for potential employees, which will be considered at an Aug. 19 meeting. Per the intergovernmental agreement with Barrington, the district must send a letter to all firefighter/paramedic personnel in all stations inviting them to interview. Rowan said this letter is expected to go out no later than Aug. 6.

Rowan said the BCFPD is anticipating hiring at least 20 village firefighters/paramedics, first through "at-will" contracts with PSI, and then if approved, through the state legislation that would allow the employees to laterally transfer from PSI to the district as career employees receiving lifelong benefits.

Other aspects the district will consider include assessing automatic-aid agreements with surrounding fire districts and possibly building a third station in the future.

"We need to get our first two (independent) stations running first and see how it's working," Rowan said. "That will give us a handle on what the need is and more importantly, where the need is."

The BCFPD said it could be next year at the earliest before trustees determine if they sign an automatic aid agreement with the Barrington Fire Department. Longtime BCFPD trustee Tom Long said it will take time to ensure the BCFPD would mutually benefit such an agreement.

"Right now, we have no way of evaluating what their manpower and aid will be," Long said. "Mutual aid is mutual, and we will be happy to provide aid if we can get a reciprocal response."

What's Next?

At this month’s meeting, the district’s board is expected to further detail its contract with PSI and discuss the distribution of fire equipment currently co-owned by the BCFPD and the village.

The intergovernmental agreement states that the village and BCFPD must agree on a company to assess the value of all equipment and then on a specified day, the two entities will toss a coin to choose a piece of equipment they would like to keep and pay the value of that equipment to the other entity, repeatedly, until all equipment has been squared away.

Unless a full, board-to-board, open meeting is arranged, Rowan said he does not foresee meeting with the village about anything until that equipment selection.

And as for the future of the BCFPD?

"We know our manpower won't be limited any longer," Heinze said.

• • •

TIMELINE FROM BARRINGTON COUNTRYSIDE'S PERSPECTIVE

Prior to 1994: Paramedics were employees of the village. Firefighters were members of Barrington Fire Department, Inc. a nonprofit group that provided fire service to the village by contract on a paid-on-call basis. An intergovernmental agreement was established (from 1950's) for the village to provide service to the BCFPD. There was only one fire station in Barrington (on Station Street).

1994: The village decides to employ full-time firefighter/paramedics and create the Barrington Fire Department.

1997: BCFPD Station (Station 2) opens in Barrington Hills.

2004: BCFPD Station (Station 3) opens in Lake Barrington and BCFPD begins purchasing services from Barrington Fire Department through its intergovernmental agreement with the village.

November 2008: BCFPD Board authorizes an independent analysis of emergency response procedures and firefighter staffing levels to be conducted by the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association (IFCA).

January 2009: The intergovernmental agreement between the district and village was automatically renewed for four years.

April 2010: IFCA delivers report to BCFPD recommending to increase personnel at the BCFPD's two fire stations.

June 2011: BCFPD sends a formal letter to the village requesting to purchase a new water tanker at the expense of the BCFPD to replace an outdated vehicle in service with the Barrington Fire Department for 30 years.

November 2011: BCFPD sends the village a formal request to hire seven firefighters for stations 2 and 3 at the cost of the BCFPD.

December 2011: A letter to BCFPD from the village states more firefighters/paramedics are not necessary. In response, the BCFPD suggests the Barrington Fire Department transfer one firefighter per shift from Station 1 (in village) to Station 2 (in Barrington Hills).

January 2012: Barrington Fire Chief James Arie informs BCFPD he will not shift personnel unless directed by the village.

February 2012: BCFPD receives a letter from the village explaining that village trustees refuse to discuss personnel increase at the upcoming joint Cost Control Advisory Review Board meeting. BCFPD responds, noting its disagreement with the village's refusal to discuss additional personnel.

June 2012: A year later, the village rejects the BCFPD water tanker request.

July 2012: Citing ongoing disagreements with the village regarding personnel and equipment, the BCFPD suggests a series of revisions to the intergovernmental agreement.

August 2012: BCFPD and village trustees hold a combined meeting at Barrington Village Hall to discuss the intergovernmental agreement and ongoing disagreements. BCFPD trustees ask for an amendment to allow for the purchase of a new water tanker.

The BCFPD Board of Trustees unanimously votes at its monthly meeting to terminate the intergovernmental agreement when it expires Dec. 31, 2013.

September 2012: BCFPD sends a formal Notice of Termination letter to the village announcing the BCFPD's refusal to renew the intergovernmental agreement in its present form. The village sends a respective notice of termination to the BCFPD.

A fire completely destroys a 16,000-square-foot home in Barrington Hills. Due to a lack of available water for fire protection, firefighters rely on water tanks aboard fire engines and the BCFPD's one available water tanker. Tenders dispatched from surrounding communities are delayed by freight trains.

The BCFPD's Insurance Services Office (ISO) review report cites a lack of personnel and inadequate water supply, dropping the BCFPD ISO rating one point on a ten-point scale (from "5" to "6").

October 2012: BCFPD trustees, at their monthly meeting, clarify that the ISO and IFCA reports agree on the need for additional firefighters and equipment to maintain service levels.

The BCFPD submits formal documentation to ISO that outlines the fire department's plans to conduct multi-company drills with surrounding departments. This training meets ISO recommendations for helping the district maintain its "5" rating.

November 2012: BCFPD Trustees approve the hiring of the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association Consulting Group, led by Robert Buhs, to help implement recommendations for improving emergency services that were identified in the IFCA's report.

December 2012: The BCFPD sends a letter to the village reiterating key issues, such as the need for additional personnel and equipment.

January 2013: BCFPD Trustees hold their first meeting at the BCFPD's Lake Barrington headquarters. The IFCA delivers a preliminary report to trustees on initial steps to be taken if the BCFPD decides to end its relationship with the village. Steps include conducting appraisals of all equipment jointly-owned by the BCFPD and the village.

February 2013: The BCFPD begins steps to separate from the village and establish a new fire department. BCFPD Trustees approve a resolution to establish an administrative structure for overseeing future fire and EMS operations within the district.

May 2013: BCFPD Trustees authorize the IFCA to request proposals from contractors to provide officers and firefighter/paramedics for district operations beginning Jan. 1, 2014.

June 2013: BCFPD Trustees open firefighter/paramedic staffing proposals from five area private contracting firms, then discuss ways to offer employment opportunities to current village firefighters who will lose their jobs when the BCFPD and village split at the year's end.

In a letter to village officials, BCFPD Trustees suggest a plan where, beginning Jan. 1, 2014, the district would "lease" up to 18 firefighter/paramedics from the Barrington Fire Department for two years and cover 100 percent of all personnel costs (salary, benefits, pension costs and insurance). These firefighters would work side-by-side with contract personnel, paid-on-call or paid-on-premise professionals hired by the district.

In a response, the village suggests the BCFPD offer a signing bonus to village firefighters who wish to transfer to the district at the end of the intergovernmental agreement, rather than a leasing contract, due to liability concerns. The village also proposes an auto-aid agreement for the village and the BCFPD.

July 2013: BCFPD Trustees approve the hiring of Jeffrey A. Swanson, of New Lenox as the district's fire chief/administrator to lead the BCFPD's transition to independent operations.

BCFPD Trustees select Paramedic Services of Illinois (PSI) to provide professional firefighter/paramedics to serve the district beginning next year. BCFPD officials have asked PSI to hire any firefighters who currently serve the district but may lose their jobs with the Barrington Fire Department at year's end.

The BCFPD denies the village auto-aid agreement as proposed, announcing it will wait to hear the village's firefighter/paramedic staffing decision for 2014.

August 2013: The BCFPD hires a finance/administrative assistant and former village employee, Kim Mueller, to assist the district in sending an invitation letter to all village-employed firefighters/paramedics to join BCFPD staff in 2014.

Source: Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District

NOTE TO READERS: This is part one of a three-part series on the pending split between the Barrington Fire Department and the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District. To explore the different perspectives on split, part one is from the perspective of the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District. Part two will look at village's side, and part three will compile the opinions of Barrington area residents and fire personnel.

The Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District is making a new name for itself.

The district – started 70 years ago as a volunteer force of merchants and farmers – is ending the intergovernmental agreement it has with the village of Barrington and as of Jan. 1 will operate as a separate entity.

"This is a rare opportunity," said Paul Heinze, a BCFPD trustee of 19 years. "Not many people witness a fire district being rebuilt."

The district historically has served Barrington Hills, South Barrington, Lake Barrington and Inverness and portions of unincorporated Cook, Lake and McHenry counties. Through its intergovernmental agreement with the village, the BCFPD gave the village money collected from Countryside residents through its fire tax and then purchased emergency fire and medical services from the Barrington Fire Department; the most recent agreement expires Dec. 31.

The split, BCFPD President Tom Rowan said, is ultimately due to the village’s refusal to hire additional personnel or purchase equipment for the district. Trustees intend to spend the next five months hiring staff, restructuring the district and working on finding a way to pay pensions for its own staff – a first for the district.

Rowan said when the district started its agreements decades ago with the village, firefighters and paramedics eventually were paid by the village – seemingly the most efficient way to handle fire support and paramedic services for both the Barrington and Barrington Countryside communities.

"It worked for us for quite a while when there was cooperation. I would not say it was outdated," he said. "We would have been happy to keep going with it, but we wanted to continue to improve service to our residents and we couldn't get the village to move on anything we proposed."

Tension boils

Differences began to emerge in 2008, when the BCFPD hired the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association to conduct a study of emergency response procedures and firefighter staffing levels. The IFCA's report, issued in 2010, recommended a personnelincrease from 3 to 5 firefighters/paramedics per shift at each of the district's stations in Barrington Hills and Lake Barrington.

The village disagreed with the study – and since the agreement between the two entities stipulated the village and district split operational costs, such as vehicle purchases and maintenance, and the village pays 35.75 percent of district personnel costs, the district could not add staff.

"We even offered to sign an agreement ensuring we would be responsible for new-hire legacy costs," Rowan said. "When the village denied us equipment and personnel, even at our own costs, we had to do something. They stonewalled us on everything that we felt was very important."

The BCFPD decided in August 2012 to split from the village.

In July, BCFPD trustees selected Paramedic Services of Illinois to provide professional firefighters/paramedics to serve the BCFPD beginning next year. The BCFPD will pay PSI with the same resident fire tax it has been using to pay the village.

The split will come at an undetermined cost for fire district's residents. BCFPD trustees they anticipate putting a pension levy proposal on the March primary ballot: If approved, it would create a new tax to cover pension costs for the district’s staff and go onto property tax bills in either 2014 or 2015.

The BCFPD said the amount the district would ask for per $100 of equalized assessed value may not be calculated until just two months before the pension levy proposal appears on ballots.

Rowan said the amount will depend on how many staff are hired as career employees, and that won't be known until they accept positions with the district in January.

Long said if the BCFPD hired staff without PSI, the district would have to provide a pension – something the BCFPD doesn't have enough time or funds for.

And, in order to hire PSI staff as career employees – which means they receive a pension – the Illinois General Assembly would have to approve legislation for a lateral transfer.

"We will only hire career employees if both the referendum for a pension levy and state legislation are approved," said Rowan, adding that those proposals likely will be sent out simultaneously.

If the pension levy proposal is rejected, the district will use a contract service for personnel.

Moving forward

BCFPD consultants and PSI met the week of July 22 to determine a salary and benefits proposal for potential employees, which will be considered at an Aug. 19 meeting. Per the intergovernmental agreement with Barrington, the district must send a letter to all firefighter/paramedic personnel in all stations inviting them to interview. Rowan said this letter is expected to go out no later than Aug. 6.

Rowan said the BCFPD is anticipating hiring at least 20 village firefighters/paramedics, first through "at-will" contracts with PSI, and then if approved, through the state legislation that would allow the employees to laterally transfer from PSI to the district as career employees receiving lifelong benefits.

Other aspects the district will consider include assessing automatic-aid agreements with surrounding fire districts and possibly building a third station in the future.

"We need to get our first two (independent) stations running first and see how it's working," Rowan said. "That will give us a handle on what the need is and more importantly, where the need is."

The BCFPD said it could be next year at the earliest before trustees determine if they sign an automatic aid agreement with the Barrington Fire Department. Longtime BCFPD trustee Tom Long said it will take time to ensure the BCFPD would mutually benefit such an agreement.

"Right now, we have no way of evaluating what their manpower and aid will be," Long said. "Mutual aid is mutual, and we will be happy to provide aid if we can get a reciprocal response."

What's Next?

At this month’s meeting, the district’s board is expected to further detail its contract with PSI and discuss the distribution of fire equipment currently co-owned by the BCFPD and the village.

The intergovernmental agreement states that the village and BCFPD must agree on a company to assess the value of all equipment and then on a specified day, the two entities will toss a coin to choose a piece of equipment they would like to keep and pay the value of that equipment to the other entity, repeatedly, until all equipment has been squared away.

Unless a full, board-to-board, open meeting is arranged, Rowan said he does not foresee meeting with the village about anything until that equipment selection.

And as for the future of the BCFPD?

"We know our manpower won't be limited any longer," Heinze said.

• • •

TIMELINE FROM BARRINGTON COUNTRYSIDE'S PERSPECTIVE

Prior to 1994: Paramedics were employees of the village. Firefighters were members of Barrington Fire Department, Inc. a nonprofit group that provided fire service to the village by contract on a paid-on-call basis. An intergovernmental agreement was established (from 1950's) for the village to provide service to the BCFPD. There was only one fire station in Barrington (on Station Street).

1994: The village decides to employ full-time firefighter/paramedics and create the Barrington Fire Department.

1997: BCFPD Station (Station 2) opens in Barrington Hills.

2004: BCFPD Station (Station 3) opens in Lake Barrington and BCFPD begins purchasing services from Barrington Fire Department through its intergovernmental agreement with the village.

November 2008: BCFPD Board authorizes an independent analysis of emergency response procedures and firefighter staffing levels to be conducted by the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association (IFCA).

January 2009: The intergovernmental agreement between the district and village was automatically renewed for four years.

April 2010: IFCA delivers report to BCFPD recommending to increase personnel at the BCFPD's two fire stations.

June 2011: BCFPD sends a formal letter to the village requesting to purchase a new water tanker at the expense of the BCFPD to replace an outdated vehicle in service with the Barrington Fire Department for 30 years.

November 2011: BCFPD sends the village a formal request to hire seven firefighters for stations 2 and 3 at the cost of the BCFPD.

December 2011: A letter to BCFPD from the village states more firefighters/paramedics are not necessary. In response, the BCFPD suggests the Barrington Fire Department transfer one firefighter per shift from Station 1 (in village) to Station 2 (in Barrington Hills).

January 2012: Barrington Fire Chief James Arie informs BCFPD he will not shift personnel unless directed by the village.

February 2012: BCFPD receives a letter from the village explaining that village trustees refuse to discuss personnel increase at the upcoming joint Cost Control Advisory Review Board meeting. BCFPD responds, noting its disagreement with the village's refusal to discuss additional personnel.

June 2012: A year later, the village rejects the BCFPD water tanker request.

July 2012: Citing ongoing disagreements with the village regarding personnel and equipment, the BCFPD suggests a series of revisions to the intergovernmental agreement.

August 2012: BCFPD and village trustees hold a combined meeting at Barrington Village Hall to discuss the intergovernmental agreement and ongoing disagreements. BCFPD trustees ask for an amendment to allow for the purchase of a new water tanker.

The BCFPD Board of Trustees unanimously votes at its monthly meeting to terminate the intergovernmental agreement when it expires Dec. 31, 2013.

September 2012: BCFPD sends a formal Notice of Termination letter to the village announcing the BCFPD's refusal to renew the intergovernmental agreement in its present form. The village sends a respective notice of termination to the BCFPD.

A fire completely destroys a 16,000-square-foot home in Barrington Hills. Due to a lack of available water for fire protection, firefighters rely on water tanks aboard fire engines and the BCFPD's one available water tanker. Tenders dispatched from surrounding communities are delayed by freight trains.

The BCFPD's Insurance Services Office (ISO) review report cites a lack of personnel and inadequate water supply, dropping the BCFPD ISO rating one point on a ten-point scale (from "5" to "6").

October 2012: BCFPD trustees, at their monthly meeting, clarify that the ISO and IFCA reports agree on the need for additional firefighters and equipment to maintain service levels.

The BCFPD submits formal documentation to ISO that outlines the fire department's plans to conduct multi-company drills with surrounding departments. This training meets ISO recommendations for helping the district maintain its "5" rating.

November 2012: BCFPD Trustees approve the hiring of the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association Consulting Group, led by Robert Buhs, to help implement recommendations for improving emergency services that were identified in the IFCA's report.

December 2012: The BCFPD sends a letter to the village reiterating key issues, such as the need for additional personnel and equipment.

January 2013: BCFPD Trustees hold their first meeting at the BCFPD's Lake Barrington headquarters. The IFCA delivers a preliminary report to trustees on initial steps to be taken if the BCFPD decides to end its relationship with the village. Steps include conducting appraisals of all equipment jointly-owned by the BCFPD and the village.

February 2013: The BCFPD begins steps to separate from the village and establish a new fire department. BCFPD Trustees approve a resolution to establish an administrative structure for overseeing future fire and EMS operations within the district.

May 2013: BCFPD Trustees authorize the IFCA to request proposals from contractors to provide officers and firefighter/paramedics for district operations beginning Jan. 1, 2014.

June 2013: BCFPD Trustees open firefighter/paramedic staffing proposals from five area private contracting firms, then discuss ways to offer employment opportunities to current village firefighters who will lose their jobs when the BCFPD and village split at the year's end.

In a letter to village officials, BCFPD Trustees suggest a plan where, beginning Jan. 1, 2014, the district would "lease" up to 18 firefighter/paramedics from the Barrington Fire Department for two years and cover 100 percent of all personnel costs (salary, benefits, pension costs and insurance). These firefighters would work side-by-side with contract personnel, paid-on-call or paid-on-premise professionals hired by the district.

In a response, the village suggests the BCFPD offer a signing bonus to village firefighters who wish to transfer to the district at the end of the intergovernmental agreement, rather than a leasing contract, due to liability concerns. The village also proposes an auto-aid agreement for the village and the BCFPD.

July 2013: BCFPD Trustees approve the hiring of Jeffrey A. Swanson, of New Lenox as the district's fire chief/administrator to lead the BCFPD's transition to independent operations.

BCFPD Trustees select Paramedic Services of Illinois (PSI) to provide professional firefighter/paramedics to serve the district beginning next year. BCFPD officials have asked PSI to hire any firefighters who currently serve the district but may lose their jobs with the Barrington Fire Department at year's end.

The BCFPD denies the village auto-aid agreement as proposed, announcing it will wait to hear the village's firefighter/paramedic staffing decision for 2014.

August 2013: The BCFPD hires a finance/administrative assistant and former village employee, Kim Mueller, to assist the district in sending an invitation letter to all village-employed firefighters/paramedics to join BCFPD staff in 2014.

Source: Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District