Barrington Explains Stance On Its Impending Split with Fire Protection District

Barrington Village President Karen Darch cited pension costs of adding more firefighters to the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District as one reason for the impending split between the village and the district.

Dozens of firefighters appeared at Monday’s village board meeting carrying signs reading "We Support One Barrington Fire Dept." and applauded residents who pleaded with village officials to continue partnering with the fire protection district.

Barrington and the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District (BCFPD) have an intergovernmental agreement where both share the cost of providing fire service to the district and the village. Yet, the district has its own governing body.

Last year, BCFPD wanted Barrington to hire seven additional firefighters/paramedics to serve in the district and would pay 100 percent of the cost. Barrington officials questioned the need to hire new staff given there were 1.8 calls a day at the district’s Station 2 and 1.4 calls a day at Station 3, Darch said.

Even though the district would pay the costs to add the seven additional firefighters/paramedics, Barrington would incur the “legacy” costs like pensions and disability costs for injuries in the line of duty, Darch said. Under state law, villages must provide a pension fund, she said. A firefighter or paramedic who is injured in the line of duty can collect 65 percent of their salary for the rest of their life, she said. Spouses can collect the disability as well, she said.

Pensions and disability costs come out of tax payers’ pockets, Darch said. Barrington taxpayers bear the risk of all these legacy costs for a much larger workforce than what is needed to provide service to the village, she said.

BCFPD notified the village late last year that it would not renew the intergovernmental agreement, which provides fire service to Barrington. The agreement will expire in December.

Barrington has one fire station within its village limits which would cover the entire town if the agreement with BCFPD does expire at the end of the year. Darch said the village will work on a “robust” mutual aid agreement with BCFPD to provide additional coverage.

Eric Brouilette, president of the Barrington Professional Firefighter Local 3481, got applause for his statement, arguing Barrington should preserve its relationship with the district for the sake of public safety.
 
Expecting neighboring fire districts and villages to provide mutual aid is naive, he said. Barrington would not be able to provide mutual aid because responding to other towns would leave the village unprotected, he said. If Barrington cannot provide mutual aid, it should not expect to receive metal aid, Brouilette said.

He said Darch is making a name for herself in Springfield fighting for pension reform. However, the fire pension is not the root of evil, he said. It’s only a matter of time that the stars start lining up and someone is the victim of politics, he said.

Resident Larry Lincoln has been following the issue for nine months. He said the board’s special presentation Monday was the first time he has gotten any answers to his questions. But, he remains concerned about village splitting from the district.

It will cost more money to add additional firefighters, but separating from the district is the worse thing Barrington can do, Lincoln said. He does not have confidence that a “robust” mutual aid agreement can provide adequate fire service to the village.

“I am really scared, I really am,” Lincoln said. 

Barrington trustees assured residents they are concerned about public safety.