Villa Park Board votes on leadership changes amid transparency concerns

In a special meeting held on May 28, 2025, the Villa Park Board of Trustees made a significant decision to pursue new leadership by moving forward with the appointment of Chief Rivas as the new village manager. This decision, however, was met with considerable dissent from some trustees, highlighting concerns over the transparency and process of the leadership change.

Trustee Kumar voiced strong opposition to the decision, arguing that resident opinions were not adequately considered. He noted that during his election campaign, he had spoken to hundreds of residents, none of whom expressed dissatisfaction with the outgoing manager, Matt Harline. Kumar emphasized the need for a transparent hiring process and raised concerns about the potential costs associated with filling existing gaps in village leadership.

Trustee Cordova echoed these sentiments, expressing disappointment in how the decision was handled. He criticized the timing of the meeting, which fell over Memorial Day weekend, suggesting it was inappropriate to make such significant changes without full board involvement or public input. Cordova also raised concerns about the possibility of private discussions among trustees that could violate the Open Meetings Act, calling into question the legality of the decision-making process.

Despite the dissent, the board proceeded with the vote. The resolution to appoint Chief Rivas received mixed support, with some trustees voting in favor while others, including Kumar and Cordova, voted against it. The meeting underscored a divide among trustees regarding governance practices and the importance of community engagement in decision-making.

As Villa Park moves forward with its new leadership, the discussions from this meeting highlight the ongoing challenges of balancing effective governance with transparency and community involvement. The board's next steps will likely involve addressing the concerns raised by dissenting trustees to foster a more inclusive decision-making process in the future.