Creek commissioners angered by city manager’s outbursts

COCONUT CREEK — Commissioners here say something must be done about City Manager Dave Rivera’s habit of getting angry and yelling at residents and commissioners.

Three of five commissioners agreed during a recent city meeting that he’s yelled at them on multiple occasions, and he sometimes yells at residents when they criticize city operations.

“I’ve been yelled at, screamed at, told I’m ‘the worst mayor ever,’” said Mayor Becky Tooley. “Something does have to be done. [Rivera is] smart and hardworking, but I can’t deal with it anymore.”

Rivera apparently yelled at the newest commissioner, Sandra Welch, at a community meeting earlier this year when she suggested the meetings should have been held earlier to get more input.

Welch said that at a private meeting last week Rivera “became argumentative” and yelled at her “repeatedly and aggressively” when she asked for information about a housing program that he didn’t have.

The issue came up during his annual evaluation last fall.

“I’ve been yelled at, screamed at, told I’m ‘the worst mayor ever.’ ”

Mayor Becky Tooley

Commissioner Lisa Aronson suggested anger management classes, but he didn’t attend any.

Commissioners say his angry outbursts have continued unabated. They don’t agree on what to do. Welch wants to fire him, Aronson wants to mandate anger management, and Tooley wants to put him on probation.

So they plan to meet privately with City Attorney Paul Stuart to see what powers the city charter gives them.

Then they will discuss their options at theMay 23 commission meeting.

Rivera said he disagrees he has anger issues, but he plans to listen to and address the concerns of each of the commissioners.

“I wouldn’t say I have anger issues,” he said. “Iwould say I’m very serious about the work I do for this city and its residents.”