Franklin Park fire union lieutenant urges executive session, warns of low morale and staffing strains

Lieutenant Anthony Tricoci, president of Local 1526, urged the Franklin Park Board of Trustees on Feb. 2 to hold an executive session to address an unresolved labor contract and what he described as a morale crisis in the Fire Department.

Tricoci told the board that staffing is stretched, that mandatory forced time is prompting personnel to consider leaving, and that the loss of experienced firefighters could affect response capacity and safety. He submitted documents to Village Clerk April J. Arellano for distribution to the board and requested a private meeting with the mayor and trustees to resolve the contract, according to the meeting minutes.

The public-comment item occurred during the board's public-comment period; the minutes record no board action or immediate scheduling of an executive session in response to the request. Trustee William 'Bill' Ruhl, reporting for the Police and Fire Committee that evening, noted he had no separate fire department report.

The request does not appear to have been placed on the Feb. 2 agenda for formal consideration. The board adjourned at 7:30 p.m.; the minutes do not indicate a follow-up date or formal response to Tricoci's request.