Clarendon Hills OKs Mandatory Retirement

CLARENDON HILLS, IL – The Clarendon Hills Village Board took the first step Tuesday to enact a mandatory retirement age of 65 for firefighters and police officers.

The measure would force the retirements of four fire department members, including Chief Brian Leahy, who joined the force in the early 1970s.

At the board meeting, a number of current and former firefighters and EMTs spoke against the idea.

In presenting the proposal, Village Manager Zach Creer, who took the helm in July, told the board it was at the village attorney's recommendation. Creer did not speak further.

Village trustees did not discuss the proposal or ask any questions. They fast-tracked approval with a package of other items.

Last Tuesday, Leahy and administrative Lt. Jim Weil were put on paid administrative leave, with Lt. Dave Godek named acting chief. Godek was at Tuesday's meeting, sitting at a table with a nameplate containing his new title.

Dave Godek (left), acting chief of the Clarendon Hills Fire Department, attends Monday's Village Board meeting. He is next to Police Chief Paul Dalen. (David Giuliani/Patch)

During public comments, Will Sperling, who described himself as Leahy's lifelong friend and colleague, said the leave put the chief in an "extremely bad light."

"Now he has a black mark on his record," Sperling said.

Fire Capt. Dave Sobottke said he was one of those who would be forced to retire.

"You work for someone for 50 years, you've lived here your whole life and then you get a to-whom-it-may-concern letter," Sobottke said. "I'm a real person."

He said he could handle all the physical tasks mentioned in the letter justifying a mandatory retirement age.

"We know when it's time to leave. We're getting close to that time," he said.

Sobottke said the village was destroying the "synergy" between younger and older department members.

"I cherish working with our younger firemen," he said. "I learn from them, and I hope they learn from me."

Former Trustee Taps Gallagher said the village should grandfather in the existing members of the department with the retirement rule.

"I think you're opening yourself to lawsuits," said Gallagher, a lawyer. "I don't care what the village attorney says. It's going to cost you money."

He said Leahy has put in a lot of uncompensated time to the village, describing the chief's work as "unbelievable."

"To send out letters to firemen as impersonal as that is, it's an embarrassment to the village," Gallagher said.

Creer interjected, saying Leahy spoke with the three members about the proposal before the village sent the letters.

Leahy was not at the meeting, but his daughter was. She did not speak.

The board is likely to take its final vote on the issue at its Dec. 18 meeting.

The fire department operates on a paid-on-call model. Four members are on duty, while others are called as needed. Leahy works full time.