A familiar face in Lake County is slated to take over the town of Merrillville’s manager spot, at least for a few months.
The Town Council at a special meeting Aug. 29 is expected to approve former Highland Clerk-Treasurer and State Sen. Michael Griffin as interim town manager, Council President Rick Bella, D-5, confirmed Friday. Griffin will replace Pat Reardon, who resigned at the start of the month.
Bella said the town had received “very few” qualified applications for either the interim or permanent manager posts, but Griffin had the most municipal experience “by far,” even if he didn’t have the title.
“(Griffin) kind of worked closely with department heads and others during his 35 years in Highland,” Bella said. “We had an executive session of the council this week and invited Mr. Griffin to attend to speak to us and allow us to ask questions. All resumes were shared with the council but again, Michael stood out.”
If approved, Griffin will stay until the new town council is sworn in, Bella added. That way, the council can tweak the position’s job description and then allow the new council to choose its own manager.
Bella, at least, is happy with the choice.
“Having him for a few months is a great win for Merrillville, and I plan to support his hiring next Tuesday,” he said.
Griffin, if approved, would receive the town manager’s salary for the months he’s in the role but would waive the town’s health insurance and 11.2% PERF contribution, taking a 3% contribution into a qualified retirement fund of his choosing, Bella said.
Griffin couldn’t be reached for comment Friday.
The town council also removed Reardon as its appointee to the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority, as it installed Crossroads Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Deann Patena to the spot at its Aug. 22 meeting.
Town Councilman Shawn Pettit, D-6, has worked closely with Patena while he’s served on the board of directors for the Crossroads Chamber and said in a release that he believes “her knowledge in the hospitality and tourism industries will be an asset to the SSCVA.”
“She’s going to make an excellent representative,” Pettit said.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
