Oak Park Fire Chief outlines training, recruitment and overtime concerns; Board weighs Baker Tilly staffing recommendations
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Summary
Fire Chief J.T. Terry described wellness programs, recruitment and a requested training‑officer position; trustees debated adding 6–9 firefighters recommended as a future consideration by consultants and discussed overtime and funding options.
Oak Park Fire Chief J.T. Terry told the Finance Committee Oct. 30 that the department is requesting a training‑officer position for FY26 and that recruitment and overtime remain top priorities as the village considers longer‑term staffing changes discussed in recent consultant reports.
Chief Terry outlined department priorities including expanded American Heart Association CPR offerings, return of the certified car‑seat program, purchase of an SCBA washer, upgrades to mobile patient‑care technology and continued community risk‑reduction work. He said the department has about 73 full‑time equivalent positions and emphasized wellness efforts for firefighters.
Trustees pressed on whether the FY26 budget would add more firefighters beyond the single training position. Trustee Straub and several others said they remain interested in adding 6 firefighters identified in the Baker Tilly analysis plus authority to over‑hire up to three additional positions, but Interim CFO Donna Gaten and Manager Jackson clarified that Baker Tilly did not recommend adding positions without identifying funding and that the final decision is for the Village Board after finance committee review.
Discussion focused on overtime: committee members noted the department has carried large overtime costs in recent years (one trustee referenced about $900,000 in overtime for the current year) and asked whether adding staff would materially reduce overtime. Staff said the consultants indicated additional firefighters would not automatically cut overtime unless accompanied by changes in minimum‑manning and deployment strategies. Baker Tilly estimated an order‑of‑magnitude cost of about $179,000 per firefighter/paramedic (including pension) in a presentation discussed in the meeting; staff gave a preliminary total near $2.3 million for a larger staffing package that includes apparatus and related costs but said they would return with line‑by‑line numbers for 3, 6 and 9 positions and associated overtime savings scenarios.
Chief Terry and staff also noted the department has four current vacancies and that over‑hire authority — temporarily hiring while another member is still on the payroll pending retirement or other exit — has been used to shorten vacancy gaps. Manager Jackson and trustees agreed the finance committee should review staffing cost scenarios and CIP trade‑offs (including a new fire station and other projects) when evaluating any request to add permanent positions.