The East Peoria City Council on Tuesday narrowly approved a 5-year firefighter contract by a 3-2 vote. The deciding vote was cast by Commissioner Dan Decker, who is also an Assistant Fire Chief of the East Peoria Fire Department.
Decker said he believed he was legally able to vote on the contract and did so to preclude the potential cost of arbitration.
“It would have been much easier to abstain,” Decker said after the vote. “But if there had been a deadlock (vote) it would have gone to arbitration and that would have been extremely costly to the city. (Besides) nothing in the contract affects me.”
Commissioner Mike Sutherland, who voted against the contract, challenged Decker’s vote.
“I have a problem with a fireman (voting on the contract),” Sutherland said after the vote.