Villa Park trustees remove village manager, appoint police chief Michael Rivas

The Villa Park Board of Trustees voted May 28 to allow Village Manager Matt Harline's contract to lapse and then appointed Police Chief Michael (Mike) Rivas as the village manager.

The board approved Resolution A, to remove the village manager, on a 5-2 roll call (Trustee Constatos, Trustee Sabri, Trustee O'Fano, Trustee Cozart and President Patrick voting yes; Trustee Cordova and Trustee Kumar voting no). The board then approved Resolution B, appointing Chief Michael Rivas as village manager, on a 6-1 roll call (Kumar voting no).

The votes followed an extended public comment period in which multiple residents urged the trustees to retain Harline or to provide clearer explanation of the process. Robert Wagner, a Villa Park resident who said he has lived in the village 42 years, called Harline a "hardworking, competent village manager" and urged the board to consider a one-year agreement to maintain continuity. Christine Murphy, who submitted two emails read into the record, urged trustees to vote no on Resolution A and to reject appointing Chief Rivas, saying the actions appeared to lack a transparent process.

Trustees debated the process and merits of the decisions during an open session after an executive session conducted under the Illinois Open Meetings Act. President Patrick told the meeting the Harline contract had expired on May 12, aligning with the swearing-in of the newly seated board and giving the incoming board "the opportunity to evaluate the position and determine appropriate direction for the community." The board cited executive-session personnel discussions held over several months; the meeting record references 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) as the statutory basis for the closed-session personnel discussion.

Trustee Kumar said she did not believe resident views had been adequately considered and opposed the removal vote, saying she "does not feel this is the right choice" and criticizing short notice and lack of transparency. Trustee Cordova likewise criticized the process, saying "This isn't transparency. This felt originally, like a move designed to limit voices," and warned that private coordination could raise Open Meetings Act concerns. Trustee Constatos moved Resolution A; Trustee Cozart seconded the motion. Clerk Laughlin called the roll votes as recorded on the transcript.

Supporters of the appointment said Rivas brings experience, education and stability. President Patrick and other trustees cited Rivas's master's degree in public administration and his record as police chief, including grant-writing and workforce stabilization, as reasons for the appointment. After the vote, Chief Michael Rivas addressed the public and said, "What I promise you all is there will be full accountability and transparency in all that we do." He said he intends to build collaboration between elected officials, staff and the public and to focus on staffing, stalled projects and budget access.

The board did not announce an effective date for Harline's removal beyond noting the contract had expired and did not provide a public, competitive search for the manager position prior to the appointment. Multiple residents and at least one trustee expressed concern about continuity, staffing gaps and the village's capacity to handle ongoing projects if senior staff change. Several public commenters noted past turnover in village leadership and urged caution in making another rapid leadership change.

The meeting concluded after the votes and a brief statement from Rivas; trustees moved to adjourn following a final roll call. The board did not provide additional implementation details or an announced timetable for transitions in other affected departments.