The ongoing discord over staffing matters between Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel and County Prosecutor Peter Lucido, in conjunction with the Board of Commissioners, has reignited this year. Hackel recently vetoed a board measure aimed at filling part-time clerical positions, citing concerns over potential violations of state law during the initial committee vote.
The board’s January 25 decision to allocate $107,000 for the creation of these positions was met with Hackel’s veto, which highlighted procedural irregularities in the preceding committee vote on January 23. Despite the board’s subsequent attempt to override the veto during a full board meeting on Thursday, an insufficient number of votes precluded its success.
Hackel’s objections primarily centered around what he described as the “unorthodox” approval process for the budget amendment. He criticized the method of attaching the amendment to an unrelated item during the Public Services Committee meeting, asserting that it lacked transparency and potentially violated state regulations and the county charter.
“While I believe the vote was invalid, I issued the veto to err on the side of caution,” Hackel stated in a memo addressing the matter.
Democratic Commissioner Mai Xiong expressed reservations about the procedural maneuver during the committee meeting, while others, such as Democratic Commissioner Harold Haugh, acknowledged concerns but ultimately supported the measure.
The proposal, initiated by Republican Commissioner Joseph Romano, sought to allocate funds for the creation of four positions within the Prosecutor’s Office, with the motion passing 11-1.
In response to the controversy, Romano expressed discomfort with the voting process and suggested the matter could be revisited. He underscored the importance of addressing Lucido’s request for additional positions, emphasizing their necessity as deemed by the Prosecutor.
Hackel’s veto also highlighted broader concerns regarding adherence to legal procedures and the need for improved communication between his office and the board. The strained relationship between Hackel and the board, particularly over staffing issues, has been a recurring theme in recent years.
This latest clash comes amid ongoing legal disputes between Lucido and Hackel, including litigation over staffing allocations and the rejection of Lucido’s request to hire legal representation.
The board’s decision to reject Lucido’s request to hire Perkins Law Group and table a resolution regarding legal representation further underscores the contentious atmosphere surrounding these issues.
While Romano declined to comment on the recent developments, citing the board’s closed session to discuss legal matters, the ongoing dispute underscores the challenges in reconciling conflicting interests within Macomb County’s government.