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Macomb Twp. Clerk named Township Clerk of the Year
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — The Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks has named Macomb Township Clerk Kristi Pozzi as the 2023 Township Clerk of the Year.
“I was incredibly honored and humbled to be the recipient of that prestigious award,” Pozzi said. “I believe the award is a testament to the power of perseverance, hard work and dedication, but I couldn’t have done it alone. I have an amazing team in my office that has supported me through every challenge we have faced with changing laws and processes, and I have an amazing support group of family and friends that constantly encourage me and inspire me and probably got me where I am today. I am really, truly just so incredibly honored because it was an uphill battle in the last seven years, and it’s a testament to hard work pays off.”
Pozzi was first elected to the position in 2016 and reelected in 2020, making General Code’s Municipal Clerks Honor Roll in 2021 for her efforts to internally streamline the election process and informing Macomb Township voters about the process. Part of those initiatives included hiring interns and first-time voter education programs. Pozzi has served as a member of the Macomb County Clerks Association since 2017, becoming its vice president in 2018 and president in 2019-2020.
Judge dismisses Esordi whistleblower suit against township
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Former Macomb Township Attorney and Human Resources Director Thomas Esordi’s legal fight against the township came to an end on June 14. Macomb County Circuit Court Judge James Maceroni dismissed a lawsuit that alleged the township, former Supervisor Janet Dunn and current Township Clerk Kristi Pozzi violated the Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) when he was fired.
“To the extent Esordi has established a prima facie claim under the WPA against the Township, the same reasons that defeat his causation argument also defeat his argument that the Board’s proffered legitimate reasons for terminating him (i.e., the dual role presented a conflict of interest, the negative performance evaluations, and restructuring departments) were a pretext for the retaliation against his whistleblowing,” Maceroni said in his dismissal opinion. “The Board Members’ proffered reasons are supported by the evidence, there’s no evidence that they were not actually motivated by those reasons, nor is there evidence that those reasons were insufficient to motivate their decision to terminate Esordi.
Maceroni’s opinion concluded, “The Township’s motion must be granted.”
The end of the whistleblower case concludes the legal disputes between Esordi and the township. Prior cases claiming the township’s firing violated Esordi’s contract, due process rights and other laws were dismissed in federal and county courts.
On Jan. 22, 2020, Esordi reportedly disclosed information to the Macomb Township Board of Trustees about Dunn and former Township Treasurer Dino Bucci. He reportedly said he alerted the authorities to alleged financial misdeeds. Esordi also received three anonymous critical performance evaluations from department heads citing poor performance, competence and “hostile demeanor,” according to a statement from Benjamin Aloia, an attorney representing the township. Esordi was fired the following day. The township cited the performance evaluations as the cause but Esordi claimed it was retaliation.
Esordi and attorney Albert Addis have since begun filing for appeals on all of the rulings in Macomb County Circuit Court, Addis said.
“The decision of the Macomb circuit court, if it were allowed to stand, would change the rights of governmental employees for the worse forever,” Addis said.
CMPL hosting Vision Network meetings
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — The Macomb Library for the Blind and Print Disabled will host Vision Network meetings this summer at the Clinton-Macomb Public Library. These informal and informational sessions are for those who are blind or have low vision and their caretakers. Meetings will take place on second and fourth Tuesdays at the Main Library at 40900 Romeo Plank Road in Clinton Township from 10 a.m. to noon.
The first meeting will take place on Tuesday, June 27, with a discussion on transportation with Leslie Verstraete from the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation. Mike Powell will discuss technical vs nontechnical low vision solutions on Tuesday, July 11. On Tuesday, July 25, the Macomb Library for the Blind and Print Disabled will present an audio-described showing of “Where the Crawdads Sing.” New technology to help browse the library will be showcased on Tuesday, Aug. 8, and a discussion about alternative phone solutions will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 22.
Registration is not required to attend the Vision Network events. For more information about Macomb Library for the Blind and Print Disabled, visit cmpl.org/mlbpd or call (586) 286-1580.
Prosecutor’s Office takes seven awards
MACOMB COUNTY — The office of Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido has won seven Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo).
This is the second year in a row the office has taken seven NACo awards.
“This national recognition shows remarkable progress is taking place in the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office where significant and positive changes continue,” Macomb County Board of Commissioners Chairman Don Brown said in a statement.
The NACo Achievement Awards honor county programs aimed at improving services for residents. The seven awards won by the Prosecutor’s Office were for:
• Death case dashboard for improving administration of cases involving death.
• Paperless victim rights requests.
• Payment processing technology for improving criminal case “discovery digital media fee” processing.
• Converting the digital evidence platform to staff training platform.
• Electronic victim advocate assistance requests.
• Streamlining information transfers with instant warrant and courtroom manual updates to assistant prosecutors.
• Improved weekend warrant authorization with jail duty tracker.
“Together, we celebrate these achievements as a reflection of our collective commitment to serving and protecting the residents of our county,” Lucido said in a statement. “These accolades stand as a testament to the remarkable efforts and dedication of our assistant prosecutors and staff. We are in an environment conducive to innovation and excellence, allowing us to implement groundbreaking programs and initiatives that positively impact our community.”
