From The Trib, October 23, 1974

Firemen aim at chief

By ARTHUR BARNUM

Westchester firemen have received permission from the Westchester Board of Fire and Police Commissioners to campaign for candidates in the April municipal election who will, in effect, assist the firemen in having their chief, David Fornell, replaced.

Davie Fornell pictured to the left.

Wayne Horn, president of the Westchester chapter of the Associated Independent Municipal Employees Union, last week received a letter from George Dvorak, commission chairman, stating that members of the fire department may campaign, provided the campaigning occurs while the member is not on duty, not in uniform, and not in violation of any federal or state regulations.

The 13 full-time members of the fire department have been at odds with Fornell since Charles Danek,  village manager, fired the 30-year old chief in February.

In a letter not previously made public, dated July 5, Lee Archambault, secretary of the firemen's union, told the village board, "All 13 full-time firemen agree that we will forego any demand for a pay raise this year if the village will promise to remove the present fire chief within 30 days and replace him with someone who is more knowledgeable in the are of fire fighting."

Fornell and members of the department have differed on numerous occasions on methods of fighting a fire.

In September, the firemen received an average 12% pay increase, retroactive to May 1, but no action was taken on their request for replacing Fornell.

The village board is split 4-2 on backing Fornell.  Trustees Arthur Bieber and Kenneth Caithamer oppose Fornell.

Up for re-election in April, 1975, municipal elections are Trustees Donald Devine, John Turner, and Caithamer.

"This will be an issue in the election and there is to be a full slate of candidates that opposes Fornell," Caithamer said.

Caithamer said if he and two other Fornell opponents are elected, they would team with Bieber to form a majority on the board.

"The first thing we would do is repeal the ordinance that gives the manager the power to hire and discharge department heads without the approval of the village board, and then we would look for a replacement for Fornell," Caithamer said.

The main complaint against Fornell is his administrative ability and experience, which includes 14 months as a full-time fireman in Addison and several years of volunteer duty in Addison, Chicago, and Little Rock, Arkansas.

Last Modified:  02/09/2005