HARVARD – The city never advertised, gathered applications or conducted formal interviews for a Public Works Department opening filled last month by former Alderman Darrell Perkins.

Perkins, who submitted a letter of resignation from his seat as 4th Ward alderman in early February, was hired about two weeks ago to work in the department, Mayor Jay Nolan said. Nolan said Perkins’ union position comes with a pay rate of about $20 an hour, translating to a baseline salary of $41,600.

Nolan said the city “had feelers out” to people in the community, receiving about eight applications for the position and interviewing three people. After the Northwest Herald filed a Freedom of Information Act request asking for those applications, Nolan clarified that there were no applications or formal interviews during the process.