Ex-Hinsdale Chief Questions Axing Of Position

HINSDALE, IL – A former Hinsdale fire chief has criticized the Village Board's decision to eliminate the deputy fire chief's position.

A month ago, Patrick Kenny, who served as chief from 1994 to 2008, sent a six-page letter to the village president and trustees. Patch obtained the letter through a public records request.

The elimination of the position has drawn criticism from Margaret Woulfe Arens, who heads the village's Board of Fire and Police Commissioners.

In March, the village announced its proposal to ax the deputy chief's position as Chief John Gianelli was preparing to retire. Earlier this month, interim Chief Jon Carlson revealed his own plan to retire because his usual position as deputy chief was going away.

In his letter, Kenny urged the Village Board to reconsider.

"You have no idea of the professional and personal sacrifices all of the Deputy Chiefs have made over the decades as you eliminate this position with little or no public discussion," wrote Kenny, who retired in 2021 after nine years as Western Springs' fire chief.

He also said the lack of a deputy chief's position would deter quality candidates for chief from applying.

Village President Tom Cauley and Village Manager Kathleen Gargano did not return Patch's message for comment Friday. At a meeting, Cauley referred to an organizational review that was conducted upon Chief Giannelli's plan to retire.

In the letter, Kenny said Cauley approved the position earlier in his tenure.

"(H)ow did you suddenly get to where the position of Deputy Chief is no longer important?" Kenny said. "Is this based on some discussion referred to that no one appears to have heard presented in a public meeting or read about claiming an organizational review that has been conducted leading to the conclusion to eliminate the position?"

Kenny said he spent two years at the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association conducting organizational reviews. Village residents, he said, are entitled to know who provided the review and recommendations on the deputy chief's position.

The deputy chief's duties include personnel development, discipline, budget oversight, code reviews, reviews for new commercial occupancies, fire prevention ordinance development and recommendations on standard operating procedures, Kenny said.

"The Deputy Chief position was and will forever be a cornerstone of the department's leadership model, which has provided the kind of stability the Hinsdale Fire Department is known for and supports the mission of both the Village and the Fire Department for that position," Kenny said.

He continued, "Removal of that position, for whatever motivation has been brought forward, does nothing more than weaken the effectiveness of the department leadership."

The board took initial and final votes on axing the position in March and April.

The village's meeting agenda packet did not explain Village Manager Gargano's recommendation on the position, other than to say, "After review, it has been determined the needs of the Village are best met by eliminating the position of Deputy Fire Chief."