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Villa Park board approves separation with former manager, formalizes Michael Rivas hire and new village attorney
Summary
After executive session, the Villa Park Village Board approved a separation agreement with former Village Manager Matthew C. Harline, consented to removal of the outgoing village law firm and approved compensation and an employment agreement for new Village Manager Michael Rivas, who was sworn in at the meeting.
The Village of Villa Park’s Board of Trustees on June 9 approved a separation and release agreement with former village manager Matthew C. Harline, consented to the manager’s removal of the village attorney firm Storino, Romello & Durkin, and finalized an employment agreement for appointed Village Manager Michael Rivas.
The board conducted the vote immediately after reconvening from executive session. Trustees cast recorded votes on the separation agreement: Trustee O'Fano, Trustee Cordova, Trustee Costatos, Trustee Kumar and Trustee Sabri voted yes; Trustee Cozart voted no. The motion passed.
Mayor (Village President) Kevin Patrick swore in Michael Rivas as appointed village manager earlier in the meeting. Rivas repeated the oath: “I, Michael Rivas, do solemnly swear and affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Illinois and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the village manager of Villa Park, Illinois.” The board later approved an employment agreement for Rivas with specific edits recorded into the public minutes: an annual salary increase tied to the greater of CPI or annual department head raises; a December annual 360 evaluation starting December 2025; quarterly executive-session performance check-ins; and mutual goal-setting concurrent with the annual evaluation. Trustees approved the employment agreement by roll call after executive-session deliberations.
The board also voted to consent to the village manager’s removal of the village attorney firm Storino, Romello & Durkin and to establish compensation for the replacement firm Montana & Welch. The removal required board consent under village code; the motion to consent passed after roll call votes recorded in open session. The board then approved the compensation terms for the incoming firm and the manager’s employment contract language changes in separate votes.
Trustees and members of the public spoke during earlier public-comment periods about the personnel changes. Several commenters questioned transparency and executive-session decisions; other residents urged the board to focus on cooperation and forward work for the village. Trustee comments during the meeting emphasized turning to the village’s agenda of infrastructure, permitting, and economic development while the new manager assumes responsibilities.
The board’s actions follow executive-session deliberations the board said were necessary under the Illinois Open Meetings Act provisions recited before the closed session. The agenda item titles and the roll-call decisions were entered into the public record after the board returned to open session.
The personnel resolutions passed at the June 9 meeting will be reflected in the written agreements and posted minutes once the documents are executed and returned to the board.
