Union leaders tell Franklin Park trustees the fire department is in crisis; request meeting

Lieutenant Anthony Tricoci, identified in the minutes as president of Local 1526, told the Village of Franklin Park Board of Trustees on Feb. 17 that the fire department is losing experienced personnel and that a requested executive meeting with the mayor and trustees had gone unanswered. He said the loss of senior members is eroding institutional knowledge and affecting training and mentorship.

Lieutenant Bart Borowiec said the department is "in crisis," reporting multiple resignations, officers being processed elsewhere and vacancies the department cannot fill. He said the resulting strain increases overtime and physical and mental pressure on remaining members and asked for a meeting with village leadership to develop a solution.

Lieutenant Dan Colantuono, identified as acting battalion chief, provided staffing figures the minutes record as the department having 38 members of a fully staffed complement of 43 and said the department had lost 12 members to other departments in the last six years. Colantuono said three resignations were pending, two retirements were expected in May, and the department could fall to 31 firefighters by July. He said one bilingual firefighter with about two-and-a-half years of experience left for better benefits elsewhere, another left for better wages and conditions, and that one officer worked 996 hours of overtime in 2025.

Colantuono noted the village had invested about $1.4 million to purchase two fire engines and said that investment will not improve response capacity unless the village becomes more competitive on pay and benefits and works with the department on recruitment and retention.

The union representatives renewed a request for a private meeting with the mayor and board. Later in the meeting the board voted to enter executive session for "Collective Bargaining Negotiations Matters, 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2)" and "Pending Litigation, 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11)." The board returned from executive session at 8:19 p.m. and the clerk recorded that no action was taken during closed session.

The trustees did not vote on any direct changes to fire-department staffing, compensation or benefits during the public meeting. Union leaders said they want a meeting with the mayor and trustees to negotiate solutions and retain staff.