Times Telegram
Little Falls Fire Chief Rob Parese will be assisting the Ilion Fire Department on a part-time basis while the Ilion department is without a chief and another of its members due to an investigation.
The arrangement, which the Little Falls Common Council approved during a meeting Tuesday, calls for Parese to devote eight hours each week to the Ilion department.
“This is a shared services agreement with the village of Ilion,” said Little Falls Mayor Mark Blask. “This will have no effect on safety for our residents. He’ll go there certain days, usually Tuesdays and Thursdays for about three or four hours. This will be at most for about three months.”
Ilion Firefighters Association addresses serious allegations regarding various members
Associated Press
The Ilion Firefighters Association released a statement on Monday with regards to the change in command structure at the Ilion Fire Department that NEWSChannel 2 first reported on February 25th.
Posted: Mar 1, 2021 11:50 PM
Updated: Mar 2, 2021 12:42 PM
Posted By: WKTV
ILION, N.Y. The Ilion Firefighters Association released a statement on Monday with regards to the change in command structure at the Ilion Fire Department that NEWSChannel 2 first reported on February 25.
In the statement, the Association acknowledged that it is aware of the serious allegations that have been made involving various members.
Ilion mayor: 2 members of fire department under investigation
Ilion Mayor Brian Lamica says two members of the village’s fire department are under investigation, after a complaint was filed by a former employee.
Posted: Feb 25, 2021 5:10 PM
Updated: Feb 25, 2021 6:31 PM
Posted By: WKTV
ILION, N.Y. – Ilion Mayor Brian Lamica says two members of the village’s fire department are under investigation, after a complaint was filed by a former employee.
According to a statement released by Lamica Thursday, the complaint alleges the department engaged in conduct that could subject the village to legal liability.
Police started the investigation in the fall.
Things are heating up at the Ilion Fire Department and this issue has nothing to do with a blaze. Since the end of last year, there have been heated relations between the fire department leadership, versus Ilion Mayor Brian Lamica, and Deputy Mayor Chuck Lester, according to residents close to the conflict.
Now, three members of the department have been disciplined including the fire chief, Thomas Pedersen, who has now been removed from his position. According to reports, Pedersen has been demoted in the fire department and retains his position as village codes officer. Two other members have also been disciplined by either being suspended or terminated.
Times Telegram
A complaint by a now former village employee has led to a shakeup in the Ilion Fire Department, according to Ilion Mayor Brian Lamica.
He said in a news release that changes have been made to the department’s command structure “with the goal of maintaining service and timely responses to calls.”
The deputy chiefs are currently in charge of the department, Lamica said in response to an email. The department had been led by Tom Pedersen, who was appointed chief in 2019 after working his way up through the ranks during 24 years as a paid firefighter. He also served as the village codes officer. There is currently a restructuring plan in place to address the codes position, according to the mayor.