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VOL. 21 • NO. 47
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2016
Fire Department to fill three long-time vacancies By Dan McLeister FOR THE ELMHURST INDEPENDENT
Three firefighter vacancies will be filled in the coming fiscal year and the department will be at full strength in 2017, Mayor Steve Morley indicated at a Committee of the Whole meeting on November 7. “It is a necessary thing to do,” he said. “It will decrease overtime.” Testing will be done for people on the eligibility list. Three people could be added at the end of the first quarter of 2017, the Mayor said. “I am extremely disappointed that this was not done last year,” Alderman Mark Mulliner (7th Ward) stated. “The money spent on overtime is about the same amount that it would have cost to hire three firefighters.” Periodically in the last year or so, people have commented at City Council meetings about the need to fill the three vacancies. On another matter, Ald. Chris Healy (5th Ward), chairman of the Public Affairs and Safety (PAS) Committee, pointed out that “medical calls have [increased] greatly.” “Are we staffed properly?” he asked. “Maybe we need a third ambulance.” The alderman noted that Superior Ambulance has been “tremendous.” “Our ambulances provide great value,” Healy said. “That has never been in question. We really appreciate what has been done.” He pointed out that 60 percent of calls come from outside Elmhurst. The City has a mutual aid agreement
with other municipalities. “It is the nature of the medical response system.” Fire Chief Thomas Freeman, who has been on the job for about
a month, commented that medical calls continue to outpace fire calls. He said he would have to do more research. “I am looking to Elmhurst Hos-
pital about the frequency of calls and to see where the volume is and where the peak demand is,” Freeman said. “We have not come to a conclusion yet.”
Morley said this item would be put on the “Circle Back List” to be discussed by aldermen at a later date after discussion of other budget items is complete.
Pipes at the Veterans Day ceremony
DEE LONGFELLOW PHOTO Elmhurst Independent
Medical calls have greatly increased: Healy
Pictured here surrounded by veterans and memorials is Elmhurst resident Brian Costello, a member of the Shannon Rovers, performing on bagpipes at the Elmhurst Veterans Memorial on Friday, Nov. 11 for the annual Veterans Day ceremony. More photos inside.
Inside:
Police Reports...........6 Sports ��������������� 33-36 Viewpoint ����������������8 Classifieds..........42-43
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