Fire Public Safety

PUBLIC NOTICE FIRE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE Thursday, June 11, 2026 - 4:30 PM Westmont Village Hall - 31 W. Quincy Street, Westmont, Illinois 60559 AGENDA 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Pledge of Allegiance 4. Public Comment 5. Approval of Minutes A. Minutes of the March 5, 2026 regular meeting. 6. Unfinished Business A. Bid Proposal Update - Leopard 7. New Business A. Staff Updates B. Annual Compliance Report 8. Reports A. Committee Chair B. Department Director C. Division(s) Reports 9. Miscellaneous 10. Adjourn Page 1 of 6 Note: Any person who has a disability requiring a reasonable accommodation to participate in the meeting should contact the ADA Compliance Officer, 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Monday through Friday, Village of Westmont, Illinois, 60559; or telephone (630) 981-6210 voice, within a reasonable time before the meeting. Listen Everywhere, an assistive listening, mobile app, is now available to visitors attending Board and Commission Meetings held in the Village Hall Board Room. https://westmont.illinois.gov/581/ADA-Listen-Everywhere Page 2 of 6  ​Village Board Fire Public Safety Committee​ ​~ Regular Meeting ~​ ​MINUTES​ ​~ Thursday, March 5, 2026 ~​ ​CALL TO ORDER​ ​Trustee Guzzo called the meeting to order at 1630 hours.​ ​PRESENT​ ​Mayor Nero, Clerk Szymski, Village Manager Gunther, Assistant Village Manager Parker,​ ​Trustee Barker, Trustee Guzzo, Trustee Liddle, Trustee Parrilli, Trustee Plowman,​ ​Trustee Scales and Fire Chief Riley.​ ​ALSO PRESENT​ ​Deputy Chief Fitzgerald, Deputy Chief Frank, Police Chief Gruen, Community​ ​Development Director Hennerfeind, Public Works Director Reis, Human Resources​ ​Director Brainerd, Finance Director Altic, Communications Director McIntyre, Fire​ ​Prevention Bureau Director Berkowitz, Battalion Chief Kielczynski and Administrative​ ​Assistant Saldivar.​ ​ABSENT -​​None.​ ​PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE​ ​The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all in attendance.​ ​PUBLIC COMMENT​ ​No public comment was received.​ ​APPROVAL OF AUGUST 7, 2025 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES​ ​Trustee Liddle made a motion, seconded by Trustee Barker, to approve the August 7, 2025​ ​Public Safety Committee Minutes as submitted. Motion carried unanimously.​ ​SPECIAL GUEST​ ​MaryAnn Kaufman, owner and founder of the FMC Natatorium, presented an update on the​ ​facility's global reach and its upcoming logistical needs. As a nationally recognized venue, the​ ​Natatorium is booked through 2028 and currently hosts elite competitions like the TYR Pro​ ​Swim Series, drawing Olympic athletes such as Katie Ledecky and Leon Marchand. While the​ ​vast majority of these high-profile events—including the bi-annual IHSA Illinois High School​ ​Swim meets and an upcoming Master's meet—are entirely self-supporting, Ms. Kaufman​ ​highlighted a new initiative requiring village assistance. Specifically, the Natatorium is launching​ ​a prestigious, two-day college tournament this September featuring six top-tier swimming​ ​universities, which will require village support. Ms. Kaufman expressed deep appreciation for​ ​the village's ongoing partnership, noting that these events drive substantial economic activity for​ Page 3 of 6 l​ocal hotels and food vendors, while the upcoming September tournament will require​ ​coordinated municipal backing to ensure its success.​ ​UNFINISHED BUSINESS​ ​Fire Station Update - 845 Design Group and Leopardo Construction​ ​Deputy Chief Tom Frank, alongside Megan Harte (Principal of 845 Design Group) and Jeff​ ​Montanari (Project Executive at Leopardo Construction), presented an update on the fire station​ ​project. The team has completed extensive design coordination meetings with village staff​ ​across the fire, public works, community development, and IT departments, and is now seeking​ ​approval to advance from the design development phase to the construction documents phase.​ ​As part of cost-saving measures, the exterior material was updated from a fiber cement panel to​ ​a durable dark masonry product. The total project budget is currently estimated at $26.2 million​ ​(consisting of $22.8 million in hard construction costs alongside soft costs and contingencies),​ ​which sits within the previously approved $25 million to $28 million range. Following approval for​ ​the construction documents phase, permitting, and finalization of the Guaranteed Maximum​ ​Price (GMP), the project will move into temporary relocation and mobilization. Trailers for the​ ​temporary station at the Wilmette Water Tower site are scheduled for delivery on March 12th to​ ​be operational by mid-April. Abatement and demolition of the existing station are slated for May,​ ​with the goal of having the new building enclosed by fall or winter to prevent cold-weather​ ​construction surcharges.​​Click here​​to view a copy​​of the presentation slides.​ ​NEW BUSINESS​ ​Services Awards​ ​Fire Chief Riley recognized Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Lieutenants Robert Sipek​ ​Jr. and Britt Cain for their outstanding dedication and volunteer service. Over the past year,​ ​Lieutenant Sipek contributed 121 volunteer hours and Lieutenant Cain contributed 107​ ​volunteer hours, supporting key community events including Spring Fling, the Taste of​ ​Westmont, and the homecoming parade. In honor of their exceptional service, both members​ ​have been nominated for a FEMA award.​ ​Fire Chief Riley also recognized EMA Deputy Director Dave Lincoln for 30 years of dedicated​ ​service to the Village of Westmont, spanning his tenure with the fire department (1995–2025)​ ​and his current leadership role within the Emergency Management Agency (EMA). Deputy​ ​Director Lincoln was commended for his vital administrative oversight of the agency, which​ i​ncludes managing the scheduling for special events and coordinating essential paperwork​ ​submissions to DuPage County.​ ​CFO/EFO Awards​ ​Fire Chief Riley presented Chief's Citation Awards to two members of the department for​ ​achieving major professional credentials. Battalion Chief Eric Blaskovich was recognized for​ ​earning his Chief Fire Officer Certificate through the Office of the State Fire Marshal following a​ ​rigorous 14-month course of study. Deputy Chief James W. Fitzgerald was recognized for​ ​completing the prestigious Executive Fire Officer (EFO) program through the National Fire​ ​Academy, a five-year achievement that included a capstone research project focusing on a​ ​staffing study of part-time and volunteer Illinois fire departments.​ ​Life Saving Awards​ ​Battalion Chief Kielczynski recognized Fire Department personnel for their excellent​ ​service.There were several awards presented including Teamwork and Life Saving Awards for​ ​three separate calls as well as the presentation of the 2025 Fire Department Employee of the​ Page 4 of 6 ​Year Award.​ ​The Teamwork Award was presented for personnel’s quick thinking and teamwork on February​ ​18, 2026 when responding to a report of a patient with severe chest pain and encountered a​ ​78-year-old male in severe distress. The actions of the crew exemplify the highest standards of​ ​prehospital care and are a clear reflection of life-saving work done when it matters most. The​ ​following crew members were recognized:​​Andrew Fitzgerald​,​​Daniela Martinez-Zuniga​,​​Marc​ ​Skowronski​,​​Harreson Sloier​​and​​Keith Wonsowski​.​ ​The first Life Saving Awards were presented to a crew for their response to a critical cardiac​ ​arrest on February 19, 2026. When crews arrived, they found a 46 year old patient in full cardiac​ ​arrest with staff already performing CPR. The following crew members were recognized:​​Ryan​ ​Bezely​,​​Rick Aquino​,​​Ivan Salgado​,​​Katie Jansen​​and​​Daniela Martinez-Zuniga​.​ ​A second Life Saving Award was presented for Westmont fire personnel’s response on August​ ​11, 2025 to the residence of an unresponsive 64-year-old female found to be in cardiac arrest.​ ​The crew quickly secured the scene, donned personal protective equipment, and confirmed​ ​ventricular fibrillation on the monitor. The following crew members were recognized:​​Eric​ ​Blaskovich​,​​Ryan Bezely​,​​Andrew Hunt​​and​​Darren Files​.​ ​Employee of the Year​ ​Fire Chief Riley presented the 2025 Firefighter of the Year Award to Captain and Training Officer​ ​Dan Barrett, who was unanimously selected for his exceptional leadership and dedication in​ ​managing the department's training division. Captain Barrett was commended for his positive​ ​attitude and expertise in successfully coordinating multiple tiers of experience, professional​ ​certifications, state compliance requirements, and complex documentation. The committee​ ​noted that his unique background with both the Chicago Fire Department and smaller​ ​department operations makes him an invaluable instructor and asset to the village.​ ​Promotion to Lieutenant​ ​Firefighter Paramedic Liam O'Connor was officially promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with the​ ​Westmont Fire Department, with the oath of office administered by Mayor Steve Nero.​ ​Lieutenant O’Connor, who also serves full-time with the Argonne Fire Department, was​ ​recognized as a vital asset to the department's hazmat team due to his extensive experience​ ​with hazardous materials. Several members of his family were in attendance to celebrate the​ ​promotion, many of whom also serve in the fire service.​ ​EMS|MC to PBS Billing​ ​Fire Chief Riley informed the committee that a recommendation will be presented at the March​ ​19th Village Board meeting to switch EMS billing services from EMS|MC (formerly Andres​ ​Medical Billing) to Paramedic Billing Services (PBS). Fire Chief Riley noted that the​ ​department’s current experience with EMS|MC has been unsatisfactory, and transitioning to​ ​PBS—a subsidiary of the NORCOMM and Metro Paramedic Services firms—will yield​ ​substantial financial savings due to their lower billing service rates. Additionally, due to declining​ ​recovery returns from the village's current fire recovery vendor, the department may propose​ ​transitioning fire billing services to PBS in the future.​ ​2025 Year End Report​ ​2025 Fire Department Year-End Report Deputy Chief Jim Fitzgerald and Fire Prevention Bureau​ ​(FPB) Director Neil Berkowitz presented the 2025 Year-End Report, highlighting the​ ​department's annual reaccreditation and maintenance of its ISO Class 1 rating. Key updates​ ​from the presentation included:​ Page 5 of 6  ​●​ ​Administration & Personnel: The department currently employs approximately 87 staff​ ​members. While 24 new employees were hired in 2025, recruitment and retention​ ​remain significant challenges due to a regional paramedic shortage and part-time​ ​personnel transitioning to full-time fire service careers. Looking ahead, major​ ​organizational goals for 2026 include transitioning to the temporary fire station and hiring​ ​a Division Chief of Training.​ ​●​ ​Operations & Mutual Aid: Call volumes continue an upward trend, driven primarily by​ ​EMS and behavioral health calls generated by local healthcare facilities, with Mayslake​ ​Village remaining the highest-volume location. In 2025, the department responded to​ ​3,744 EMS calls, resulting in 2,748 patient transports.​ ​●​ ​Fire Prevention Bureau: Director Berkowitz reported that the bureau completed 3,419​ ​total inspections (achieving a 98% year-end compliance rate) and conducted 290 plan​ ​reviews. Total estimated fire loss for the year was $877,000, which is historically low for​ ​the village. The Cause and Origin team investigated 19 fires within MABAS Division 10,​ ​with no confirmed cases of arson.​ ​●​ ​Training & Specialty Teams: The department logged 28,570 total training hours, utilizing​ ​acquired structures and regional facilities for live-fire drills. Specialty rescue teams​ ​remained fully trained with zero incident call-outs, and the members of the candidate​ ​program are nearing its graduation.​ ​●​ ​Community Engagement: The department maintained strong community visibility​ ​through annual safety events, Citizens Fire Academy, CPR classes, and car seat​ i​nstallations. A new initiative, "High Five Fridays," successfully embedded fire crews in​ l​ocal schools weekly to foster positive community relations.​ ​A copy of the presentation slides can be viewed​​here​.​ ​MISCELLANEOUS​ ​There being no other business to discuss, Trustee Liddle motioned to adjourn, to which Trustee​ ​Plowman seconded. The meeting subsequently adjourned at 1748 hours.​ ​Respectfully submitted,​ ​Jacqueline Saldivar​ ​Recording Secretary​ Page 6 of 6