From The Trib, pages 1 and 2, March 18, 1974

Westchester to determine future of young fire chief

By ARTHUR BARNUM

David Fornell's fate as Westchester fire chief is to be determined at a special meeting at the village board at 8 p.m. today in the village hall, 10240 W. Roosevelt.

Fornell, 29, who began his duties as chief Feb. 1, has come under attack from Trustee Kenneth Caithamer for "being not qualified for the position and misrepresenting facts when applying for the job."

David Fornell pictured to left.

"My basic concern is his lack of experience," said Caithamer, who called for the removal of Fornell as chief.

Fornell has had the backing of the majority of the village board over the last month and a half, but said he was glad the meeting was being called.

"I have enough professional firemen who will come out and support me and my past record," Fornell said.  "Maybe after Monday all the complaining will die down and I can do the job I was hired for."

Fornell was hired by the village in January with 14 months experience as a full-time fireman in the Addison Fire Protection District, after serving as a paid-on-call fireman on the Addison department since January 1968.

While a full-time fireman, he organized his own fire truck selling business.  From October, 1972, to January, 1974, he reported selling 26 fire trucks, one being a Maxim aerial unit for $79,000 to Westchester.  The truck, ordered last year, is to be delivered to the village in two months.

"As soon as I was offered this position I sold all my stock in Northern Illinois Fire Apparatus Co (of Elmhurst)," Fornell said.  "I know there would be talk of conflict of interest, so I sold.  I will never get another cent from the firm."

Fornell said that after he made the deal for the new aerial truck with former Chief Louis Murphy, he met Charles Danek, village manager.

"I brought in the final contract for the truck and while we were having coffee he told me that the village was looking for a full-time chief," he said.  "So I applied."

Much of Caithamer's complaints center on Fornell's age, 29, and his lack of experience.

"The rest of the 34 men who applied for the position were not even contacted for interviews," Caithamer said.  "I think it was very discourteous not to consider the qualification of some of the men who have served on the force for many years."

Caithamer also believes Fornell "misrepresented" facts on his resume by saying that he had nine years of fire department experience.

Besides his duty in Addison, Fornell said that while serving at Little Rock (Ark.) Air Force Base, he served as a volunteer on two fire departments:  Cammack, a suburb of Little Rock, and the Little Rock Auxiliary Fire Department.  His resume also states that while working as a paid-on-call fireman in Addison he did extra work with the Chicago Fire Department.

"I received permission from the Chicago force to stay at a station on my days off and assist them, which I did for several years at Engine Company 16, 40th and Dearborn," Fornell said.

At tonight's meeting, Fornell plans to have his former Addison chief, and lieutenants who he worked for on the Chicago force attend the session and speak in his behalf.

Caithamer told The Trib that "his past bosses do recommend him highly, that's not what I'm arguing.  I just don't think the jobs he has held make him ready to be a fire chief."

Fornell believes that his hiring was justified.

"More and more young men are being hired for their ideas and their enthusiasm.  De Kalb has hired a 29-year-old, and Broadview's chief, James Cole, was a 30-years-old when he took over," Fornell said.

Caithamer doesn't feel as confident of Fornell's qualifications.

The issue should provide a heated session tonight.

Last Modified:  02/01/2005