looking for input

[tower19]

looking for some input i know some of the illinois family here are chiefs and trustees

does this sound right

http://www.dailyherald.com/news/dupagestory.asp?id=252807&cc=d&tc=ben&t=Bensenville

thanks
melvin

[jboczek]

I couldn't tell you for sure because all of the districts around here are not wholly in the city limits of a muncipality. The county boards make all the appointments here but if the law says the city board does it then that's the way it'll be.
Sounds like the city will still have some control over the FD by appointing the trustees.

[ChiefReason]

If a fire district was formed, then I believe that laws governing the selection process of the trustees are covered by state statute.
Regardless of the set boundaries of the district, a fire district has clear and concise laws that govern how trustees are appointed or elected.
A municipality who funds a fire department would govern the fire department with a fire commission and not a board of trustees. They would be council people.
I disagree with Mr. Ottosen that they were properly appointed. The DuPage County Board gets my vote.
And trust me; I have been wrong before.
Interesting case, though.
CR

[ChiefReason]

Of course, if you want to cut right to it, a fire district also allows for the ELECTION of fire district trustees.
Electing them would take it out of the hands of both the municipality AND the county board.
Why go to the trouble of establishing a new fire district and not have the trustees elected?
Food for thought.
CR

[tfpd109]

I agree with CR about electing your trustees. A big plus about this is not only what CR mentioned, but you let the people of the district have a voice in the department by being able to vote. I wish ours were elected trustees, but they are appointed by the county. Hopefully one of these days we'll get that changed.

[k3twpfire]

It appears that Mr. Ottosen is correct. Its my understanding the new district boundries are coterminous with the village of Bensenville, therefore the district is wholly contained within a municipality.


70 ILCS 705/4.2

(2) If the district is wholly contained within a municipality, the governing body of the municipality shall appoint the trustees for the district.

[ChiefReason]

It appears that Mr. Ottosen is correct. Its my understanding the new district boundries are coterminous with the village of Bensenville, therefore the district is wholly contained within a municipality.

70 ILCS 705/4.2

(2) If the district is wholly contained within a municipality, the governing body of the municipality shall appoint the trustees for the district.

Hmmmm. So was the district formed to get control away from the municipality?
If so, Bensenville failed miserably.
All the more reason to elect trustees. It will never appear to be a fair and just process as long as appointments can be made and accusations of improprieties with those appointments can be made.
Where is the democracy in appointing your representatives?
CR

[IllinoisFF]

Duped

It appears the firefighters as well as the citizens of Bensenville were intentionally mislead and duped. They were all led to believe that the county commisioner would be making the appointments. They were shown another section of the law that deals with the town being in 2 counties, but one municipality.
Time will tell.