After heated public comments, trustees approve mayor's pick for village collector; some call for review

The Village of University Park approved a mayoral appointment to fill the village collector post despite sustained public comment urging delay and review.

Mayor Rudz presented John Pate's qualifications and education, describing him as a former village manager and director of public safety. Several residents and public commenters urged trustees to postpone the appointment until additional review or until the newly elected trustees take their seats. Concerns included claims about Pate's prior record while serving in municipal roles and assertions that he may have improperly retained municipal benefits after departing the village in earlier years.

Trustee Brooks moved to table the resolution until the board's next regular meeting; that motion failed in a roll-call vote. The trustees then moved forward with the appointment resolution and recorded a roll-call vote to approve John Pate as village collector. The official roll-call in the minutes recorded multiple "no" votes during the discussion but the resolution ultimately passed with a majority.

Several trustees and commenters also raised a separate budgetary question: whether the collector position should remain in the village's personnel structure. Members of the finance committee had previously discussed removing the position from the budget and some speakers reiterated that viewpoint during public comment.

The board did not identify additional conditions or reporting requirements tied to the appointment when the resolution passed. Trustees who expressed reservations asked staff to ensure clear financial reporting and transparency in the collector's duties going forward.

The board recorded the resolution and took subsequent agenda items after the vote.