Excerpts from ChicagoCBSlocal.com:
More than a dozen firefighters in the small suburb of Merrionette Park have either resigned or were not re-appointed, significantly reducing the strength of the fire department to less than half its usual capacity. However, Fire Chief Tom Wendt insists that operations remain unaffected. With an area of less than half a square mile, Merrionette Park relies on a volunteer-style fire department where firefighters are only paid when responding to emergencies. These positions are typically held on an annual appointment basis.
Tony Calzaretta, the vice president of the Merrionette Park Firefighters Association, mentioned that he and 13 others stepped down following Chief Wendt's decision to replace three senior officers—a deputy chief, a captain, and a lieutenant. Chief Wendt assumed leadership after longtime Chief Len Edling retired at the end of April. He claims that many of the resigning firefighters hadn't been showing up for most calls anyway. Plans are underway to appoint 10 new firefighters at the upcoming village board meeting on May 17. Starting next month, two firefighters will be stationed at the firehouse around the clock.
Calzaretta expressed concerns about the new recruits, stating they lack the depth of knowledge and experience possessed by those being replaced.
"Instead of keeping the seasoned professionals who know the town, the equipment, and have invaluable experience, they're bringing in outsiders and inexperienced individuals," he said.
From the Merrionette Park Fire Fighters Association Facebook page:
We want to acknowledge the 17 members—yes, seventeen—who were either not re-appointed by the village or chose to resign from service with the department this week. These firefighters have been the heart and soul of the MPFD, dedicating tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of hours to protecting this community. From responding to fire and medical emergencies daily to engaging in charitable activities, providing continuous training, and volunteering countless unpaid hours at the firehouse, these members have consistently given their best. Their contributions have transformed the department from what it was ten years ago into something remarkable today. Without them, none of this progress would have been possible.
Attached to this post are some photos from our Facebook page showcasing glimpses of their dedication over the years. Together, these members have amassed over 120 years of collective service. Below are the names of those departing along with their years of service:
Katie Quinn Schneider - Department Secretary - 19 years of service (not reappointed)
Deputy Chief/EMT Pat Carter - 17 years of service (not reappointed)
Captain/Paramedic Tom Ziolkowski - 15 years of service (not reappointed)
Lt./EMT Jim Carter - 8 years of service (not reappointed)
Lt./Paramedic Tony Calzaretta - 7 years of service (resigned)
EMS Coordinator Shannon Ziolkowski - 8 years of service (resigned)
Engineer/Paramedic Kyle LaPorta - 6 years of service (resigned)
Engineer/Paramedic Joe LaPorta - 5 years of service (resigned)
FF/EMT Rick Whitlock - 6 years of service (resigned)
FF/Paramedic Mike Haas - 6 years of service (resigned)
FF/Paramedic Jeff Goworowski - 4 years of service (resigned)
FF/Paramedic Scott Staal - 4 years of service (resigned)
FF/Paramedic Connor Hughes - 3 years of service (resigned)
FF/Paramedic Sean O’Connell - 2 years of service (resigned)
FF/EMT Sean Devane - >1 year of service (resigned)
FF/EMT Mose Demasi - >1 year of service (resigned)
FF/EMT Chris Ibrahim - >1 year of service (resigned)
Lt./Paramedic Joe Guarascio, with seven years of service, also opted not to return from his leave of absence, bringing the total count to 18.
Thank you, Josh, for sharing this.
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