How Much Clarendon Hills Has Spent On Inquiry

CLARENDON HILLS, IL – Clarendon Hills has spent $11,438 so far on an investigation into the fire department, according to public records.

In November, the village hired attorney Charles Hervas with the Itasca-based Hervas, Condon & Bersani law firm to investigate the fire department's compensation system.

The inquiry started shortly after the village placed its longtime fire chief, Brian Leahy, and administrative Lt. Jim Weil on paid administrative leave. Last month, Leahy, who took the helm nearly four decades ago, entered a severance agreement with the Village Board.

The latest attorney's bill was Jan. 31; the village has yet to receive February's. Patch got the information through a public records request.

The severance agreement said the investigation's results, whatever they are, would be made public.

Often, public bodies keep reports from such investigations under wraps. They justify the secrecy by citing attorney-client privilege.

A couple of years ago, Hinsdale conducted an investigation involving its fire department, costing taxpayers more than $100,000. But the village kept the results secret, saying an attorney wrote it.

The inquiry started after the family of a firefighter who took her own life alleged she was the victim of discrimination.

In early 2022, the late firefighter's supporters took up for her at a Village Board meeting. In response, Village President Tom Cauley said he would like to release the 36-page report, but said the village's attorneys advised against doing so because of the family's litigation against the village.

At the time, Cauley said only he, the village manager and "a few select others" had seen the report. Even the elected village trustees had not seen it, he said.