Wayne County Exec. Suspends Severance Program As FBI Investigates
DETROIT (WWJ) - Still in the spotlight over a controversial $200,000 severance package awarded to a county employee, Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano Thursday suspended a special severance plan that could have paid other political appointees almost a half year's salary.
The suspension of the pension plan comes one day after the FBI served subpoenas at county offices as a part of their investigation of the severance paid to former economic development director Turkia Mullin, who eventually returned the money.
Effective immediately, all employees covered by the executive benefit plan will no longer be eligible to receive a lump sum payment at the time of separation equal to two weeks of wages for each year of service, not to exceed 24 weeks, according to a statement by Ficano's office.
Meantime, Wayne County Commissioners want more details about the controversial program.
Commission chairman Gary Woronchak says Ficano declined the panel's invitation to speak on the Mullin severance issue. Assistant Wayne County Executive Alan Helmkamp did come before the commission, but said he couldn't answer their questions.
"Since it's 24 hours after subpoenas served by the FBI, I think that's a pretty big deal. That would cause anyone to get really cautious," said Woronchak. "Certainly, that's understandable when the federal government is investigating your county on a potential criminal basis."
Woronchak said subpoenas were served at the Wayne County department of personnel and at the keeper of county records.
Meantime, Ficano is also proposing the reduction of the 5:1 match 401K to a 1:1 match.
"We have been looking at these and other features of the employee benefit and retirement plan," said Ficano, in a statement. "They can no longer be justified in the economic times we find ourselves in. Wayne County government is revising itself and moving closer to what's the industry standard."
