Gag Order Lifted On Clarendon Hills Official – To Some Extent

CLARENDON HILLS, IL – Earlier this year, the longtime fire chief for Clarendon Hills was barred from speaking with the media on a major issue.

That gag order has apparently been lifted – at least to some extent.

Last week, Patch filed a public records request seeking any correspondence indicating that Fire Chief Brian Leahy could speak with the media.

This week, the village provided a Feb. 7 email titled "Kevin Barr return" from Assistant Village Manager Zach Creer to Leahy. It was a few days after Village Manager Kevin Barr returned from a two-week suspension with pay.

A few months ago, Barr issued the order amid the controversy over whether the village should buy a new ladder fire truck. He prohibited Leahy from speaking with the media about the issue.

In his email, Creer said he was fine with Leahy providing factual clarification on the truck issue to the media.

But Creer said he thought that he, Leahy and Deputy Fire Chief Roger Krupp should present a joint message to the media and Village Board.

"We discussed media discussions on other issues, and we should talk about them on a case-by-case basis, and not rush anything out, as we do in every department," Creer said.

In the email, Creer tried to smooth the relationship between Village Hall and the fire department.

"I can't make any promises that everything will always be perfect, but in general, as I said in our meeting, the Village has a culture of mutual respect and responsibility," Creer said. "I'd expect it to return to that state, and will do everything in my power to work to get there."

Because the relationship between Barr and Leahy became rocky, Creer was apparently designated as the liaison between Leahy and Village Hall.

In early January, Leahy told Patch that he had been ordered by Barr not to speak with the media about the controversy on the ladder truck.

In an interview shortly after, Barr said the truck was a significant policy issue for the Village Board.

"This is a matter of village communications," Barr said at the time. "(The chief) is a public employee. In his capacity as chief, he is presumably speaking for the village. That's why there is a concern."

He said the chief could speak about incidents to which the fire department responds.

Barr's leave began in January. It was a few days after a public meeting in which Barr joked about Leahy's age and revealed the health information of a firefighter. That drew criticism from some residents.

Village President Len Austin placed Barr on administrative leave, and Creer cut off Barr's computer network access.

The public story was that Barr was on personal leave and doing work from home.

Patch has obtained public records showing the village's story was false.