Butler resigns as Fire District Trustee
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
Don Butler has resigned as a member of the Chatham Fire Protection District Board of
Trustees, effective June 30.
Butler, who joined the Chatham Fire Department in 1966, retired as a firefighter four years
ago. He has served on the Board of Trustees since 1978.
Butler told the Clarion that he was not happy with the Sangamon County Board's decision to
not retain former board member Mike Branham.
As reported last week, former Chatham Fire Chief Jerry Hughes was appointed to take
Branham's place as a trustee.
Don Stephens, John O'Neill and Craig Hall are the Chatham-area representatives on the
County Board, and Butler said he was told "a year ago by Don Stephens and John O'Neill that
we wouldn't be re-appointed if we didn't start doing some things differently and become 'part of
the program'.
"Craig Hall's been trying to get me to stay on until a replacement is found," Butler added.
"But he's getting pushed out by the other two."
Stephens, also contacted by the Clarion Tuesday, said Butler was re-appointed to a
three-year term as Fire Trustee last year, and at that time he and O'Neill met with Butler to
discuss "some problems".
"We wanted the lines of communication to be opened up between us and the trustees,"
Stephens added. "The biggest problem with the Fire District meetings is that they are on the
same night as the County Board meetings, so we could not attend."
Stephens added that he has received numerous complaints from members of the
community about issues with the Fire Department at various times in the past few years.
"You have to address the concerns," continued. "And when trustees refuse to communicate
with you, you're stuck in a no-win scenario."
Also, it was reported in the Clarion last week that Steve Sullivan would be resigning his post
as a District Trustee, effective June 30. But CFD Chief Phil Schumer said Tuesday that Sullivan
will remain as a trustee until after the August board meeting, giving the County Board time to
find at least one replacement.
"This will allow us to have a quorum at the board meetings," Schumer explained. "And it will
allow any business that needs to be taken care of with a vote to be handled".
Sullivan, who is resigning due to health reasons, will now have his resignation take effect
after the August regular board meeting, Schumer said.
Stephens said he hoped Sullivan would remain as a trustee until his current term expires
next year. He said the County Board will be looking at appointing one new trustee by their
August meeting, and if Sullivan decides not to stay on, then that situation will be addressed at
that time.
Stephens added that he has already received calls from five people interested in serving as
trustee since media reports first came out this past week. The possibility exists that the current
3-person trustee arrangement could be changed to a 5-person board at some time in the
future. That could be done either by trustee vote or public referendum.
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
Don Butler has resigned as a member of the Chatham Fire Protection District Board of
Trustees, effective June 30.
Butler, who joined the Chatham Fire Department in 1966, retired as a firefighter four years
ago. He has served on the Board of Trustees since 1978.
Butler told the Clarion that he was not happy with the Sangamon County Board's decision to
not retain former board member Mike Branham.
As reported last week, former Chatham Fire Chief Jerry Hughes was appointed to take
Branham's place as a trustee.
Don Stephens, John O'Neill and Craig Hall are the Chatham-area representatives on the
County Board, and Butler said he was told "a year ago by Don Stephens and John O'Neill that
we wouldn't be re-appointed if we didn't start doing some things differently and become 'part of
the program'.
"Craig Hall's been trying to get me to stay on until a replacement is found," Butler added.
"But he's getting pushed out by the other two."
Stephens, also contacted by the Clarion Tuesday, said Butler was re-appointed to a
three-year term as Fire Trustee last year, and at that time he and O'Neill met with Butler to
discuss "some problems".
"We wanted the lines of communication to be opened up between us and the trustees,"
Stephens added. "The biggest problem with the Fire District meetings is that they are on the
same night as the County Board meetings, so we could not attend."
Stephens added that he has received numerous complaints from members of the
community about issues with the Fire Department at various times in the past few years.
"You have to address the concerns," continued. "And when trustees refuse to communicate
with you, you're stuck in a no-win scenario."
Also, it was reported in the Clarion last week that Steve Sullivan would be resigning his post
as a District Trustee, effective June 30. But CFD Chief Phil Schumer said Tuesday that Sullivan
will remain as a trustee until after the August board meeting, giving the County Board time to
find at least one replacement.
"This will allow us to have a quorum at the board meetings," Schumer explained. "And it will
allow any business that needs to be taken care of with a vote to be handled".
Sullivan, who is resigning due to health reasons, will now have his resignation take effect
after the August regular board meeting, Schumer said.
Stephens said he hoped Sullivan would remain as a trustee until his current term expires
next year. He said the County Board will be looking at appointing one new trustee by their
August meeting, and if Sullivan decides not to stay on, then that situation will be addressed at
that time.
Stephens added that he has already received calls from five people interested in serving as
trustee since media reports first came out this past week. The possibility exists that the current
3-person trustee arrangement could be changed to a 5-person board at some time in the
future. That could be done either by trustee vote or public referendum.
Chatham Clarion
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Issue Date: July 3, 2008