Drew Merriman of Oglesby didn’t seem to want to hear any explanations at last night’s City Council meeting. But he wants everyone else to know he thinks the city’s hiring practices are unfair. He’s made such complaints before; his latest is about new police officer Michael Rivara, a relative of Mayor Dominic Rivara.
Commissioner Carrie Lejewski explained the tests job applicants take and said Michael Rivara was next on the ranked list of possible hires. She says an independent commission oversees the process.
Police Chief Doug Hayse says if there were nepotism behind Michael Rivara’s hiring, he would expect the new officer to have been at the top of the hiring eligibility list. Hayse says being third, it was unusual that Rivara was hired. Many police hiring lists expire before the employer has enough openings for the third person to be offered work.
Mayor Rivara called Merriman a lifelong schoolyard bully and said he wants Merriman to prove his claims. Merriman left City Hall at the end of last night’s meeting vowing that Rivara would be a one term mayor.