Esordi’s return to job rankles Supervisor Dunn
At least one person is not happy that Macomb Township’s Human Resources director and general counsel is back on the job.
Township board members heard concerns from Supervisor Janet Dunn at their Wednesday meeting about the recent reinstatement of Thomas Esordi.
He was returned to his job after an April 29 Loudermill hearing that saw the board split in 3-3 votes on whether or not there was just cause for his termination. The township’s temporary legal counsel, Greg Meihn, advised the failed motions meant
Esordi could return to his position. Dunn recused herself from voting at the April 29 hearing.
Esordi, who was said to have been fired by a majority board vote in February, responded by filing a state whistleblower lawsuit naming both Dunn and Clerk Kristi Pozzi.
According to the lawsuit, Esordi was approached by Dunn in October 2019. She expressed concern that other board members may use an ethics ordinance to remove her from office. She allegedly told him that she had received money from former trustee Dino Bucci, who has been indicted on federal corruption charges.
The lawsuit states Dunn told Esordi other employees might know about the payment and would use the information against her. It further alleges Pozzi, Parks and Recreation Director Salvatore DiCaro and unnamed union officials had been blackmailing her.
On Wednesday, Dunn said she had recused herself from the April 29 hearing on Meihn’s advice, and protested the decision that Esordi be reinstated. She also listed several reasons including concerns about retaliation.
“The employees are afraid of retaliation. The department heads are afraid of retaliation. I am afraid of retaliation. This is a hostile work environment,” Dunn said.
Motions made and seconded to terminate Esordi’s employment immediately were rescinded. The board approved a motion to table the hiring of outside legal counsel for employee matters, not limited to a whistleblower lawsuit filed by Esordi.