Barrington village determines new FD staffing model

Last night, the Barrington village board held a packed meeting to discuss various local issues, one of which was the proposed staffing changes for the Barrington Fire Department starting January 1, 2014. This change comes into effect following the expiration of the existing agreement with the Barrington & Countryside FPD. The Barrington Courier-Review has published an article detailing the new staffing plan and the surrounding discussions leading up to the vote. In what has been described as a significant move to reshape fire and emergency services in the Barrington area, the Village Board voted unanimously to let go of 19 firefighter-paramedics by the end of the year. These layoffs stem from the termination of a longstanding intergovernmental agreement that allowed the village department and the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District to collaborate over an expansive region covering more than 50 square miles. The decision to terminate the agreement, set to take effect January 1, 2014, was driven by the need to cut operational costs related to personnel and equipment, while also aiming to manage future insurance and pension obligations. As a result, Barrington is focusing solely on its five-square-mile area, leaving the protection district to continue serving the remaining 46 square miles in surrounding communities. With this unanimous 7-0 vote, the trustees have officially approved a plan to begin 2014 with a department consisting of 19 firefighter-paramedics. According to Village President Karen Darch, the new staffing arrangement will cost slightly more than the bare minimum but will be worth the investment if it enhances services and boosts public safety in Barrington. In the long run, she emphasized, this move will alleviate a substantial financial burden from taxpayers by eliminating rising pension and disability payments for employees who served outside the village's boundaries. Darch explained that maintaining 18 personnel would increase the department's annual expenses by approximately $80,000 compared to the initially planned budget for 2014. Despite this additional cost, having two extra firefighters will provide greater operational flexibility. Personnel will work out of Fire Station 1 across three shifts, each with a designated shift commander. The discussions around this separation began back in 2012 due to disagreements with the protection district regarding the hiring of additional staff and the acquisition of new equipment. It was noted that the fire department's automatic aid agreements with neighboring departments like Lake Zurich, Palatine Rural, and Long Grove will remain intact. For mutual aid purposes, the department will continue to participate in the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, as it has for decades. Following the layoffs, the protection district has expressed interest in hiring some of the displaced Barrington emergency responders through its partnership with Paramedic Services of Illinois (PSI), a private firm. However, those employed by PSI may face the possibility of losing their current pension benefits. Several residents and stakeholders passionately urged the board to reconsider the layoffs before the final vote. Char McLear, a retired assistant fire chief, criticized the move as politically motivated rather than fiscally responsible, calling it an "arrogant and self-serving" assault on the fire department. He argued that the village would bear the consequences of this decision. Despite the backlash, Village officials believe the new staffing plan will improve emergency response times, particularly for medical emergencies, by ensuring quicker dispatch of ambulances directly from the firehouse. Additional posts on this topic can be found [here] and [here]. Other related developments include ongoing negotiations with neighboring districts to ensure continued cooperation and mutual support during critical situations. Overall, the decision marks a pivotal moment in Barrington's approach to managing its fire services, balancing cost efficiency with the need for reliable emergency coverage within its borders.

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