From the Suburban Life of May 1974

By JOHN BATTISTELLA

If a vote on whether to fire David Fornell, 29, Westchester fire chief, were taken today, the tally would probably be 5-2 against it.

The call for removing Fornell, who has been chief since February 1, was made by Trustee Kenneth Caithamer at last week's village board meeting.  He charged that Fornell falsified data about his background.  Caithamer also contends that Fornell does not have the experience to lead a fire department such as Westchester's.

Asked by The Suburban LIFE whether the matter would come up at Tuesday's board meeting, Village President Frederick C. Wedinger stated that he has no way of knowing but the matter should be resolved soon.

MONDAY'S special village board meeting, with the crowd standing in the corridors, was the second act of a dramatic saga.  Monday's episode saw Fornell sharing top billing with Charles M. Danek, village manager.

Danek who like Fornell was the target of flak fired by Caithamer at last week's curtain raiser, opened the session by reading a report from Elmhurst Police Consultants giving Fornell a favorable rating.  The firm acts as consultant to fire services and law enforcement agencies.

The village manager accused Caithamer of reading only part of the material.  While at times efforts were made to rebut some of the material Danek read, the village manager insisted he and Fornell not be interrupted while they had their say.

Fornell, who was never at a loss for words, as might be expected, defended his qualifications to head the department.  He paraded a number of fire officials and firemen with whom he has been associated, including three Chicago officers as well as members of the Addison fire department, which he left to accept the Westchester post.

ON SEVERAL occasions Wedinger sought to bring the session to a close, contending the meeting was resulting in a series of charges and countercharges.

He said Caithamer had not submitted data to Trustee Donald P. Devine, public health and safety committee chairman, as he (Caithamer) said he would.  Caithamer said he has not finished investigating Fornell and that until he is he will not furnish the data to Devine.

Caithamer and Trustee Arthur M. Bieber insisted that anybody in the audience who has pertinent information to be given the floor.

Caithamer called on Fred Murphy, part-time chief for about two decades until Fornell was hired, who declined to speak but said he would submit a written report.

CRITICAL of Fornell's fire fighting tactics was Michael Malpier, who has been a paid-on-call member of the Westchester fire department for some 20 years.  Among other things, Malpier said there is a delay in getting water on a fire when Fornell's methods are used to lay out hose.

Malpier criticized Fornell for putting in a call for mutual aid with a piece of equipment "sitting" in one of the fire stations.

Needless to say, Fornell defended his actions and at one time during the heated debate stated, "That's the way it will be as long as I'm boss."

The remark drew a chorus of catcalls, one of several intoned during the session.

Last Modified:  02/09/2005