West Frankfort fire chief resigns amid pay dispute, council rejects salary plan

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

WEST FRANKFORT, Ill., (KBSI) — A dispute over pays and leadership at City Hall came to a head Tuesday, ending with the resignation of the city’s fire chief.

City commissioners chose not to move forward with a proposal to establish a standardized pay scale for department heads. The plan would have set a base salary of $80,325, with annual increases based on years of service, capped at 20%.

Officials said the proposal aimed to create consistency across departments, but concerns about the city’s financial outlook took priority. Mayor Tim Arview said the city could face a budget shortfall of nearly $8 million if current spending continues.

The proposal did not advance after no motion was made.

Commissioners then voted 4-0 to accept the resignation of Fire Chief Derek Sailliez, with Arview abstaining. The item had remained on recent agendas amid ongoing discussions.

The move follows weeks of debate over department head pay, with firefighters and supporters calling for higher compensation to reflect leadership roles and responsibilities.

Sailliez previously submitted his resignation after learning his salary would not be adjusted. He is expected to return to the department as a captain within the union.

City officials have not said when a replacement will be named.

The council also postponed action on appointing a police chief, citing the need for additional discussions with department leadership.