member, suspended four officers
during his first week on the job for
“conduct unbecoming of an offi-
cer.” The infractions allegedly took
place during an undercover opera-
tion and the 30-day suspensions
were to be unpaid. These four, St.
Andre confirmed, were among
those being charged in the corrup-
tion investigation.
“The investigation started three
years ago after Mayor Lambert
heard there was possible miscon-
duct and contacted the State
Police,”Dickerson said.
Councilman William
Wadsworth, a former Wayne
County Sheriff deputy, said it was
very unfortunate, but reminded
everyone not to pass judgment too
quickly.
Council President LeRoy
Burcroff was concerned about the
impact the situation could have on
other officers in the department.
“We've got to move up from
here. We've got a lot of great offi-
cers still in that department We
don't want to tarnish all the hard
work that they've done-and that
theywill be doing.”
“I want to let all the residents
know that they are very safe with
this police department. We have a
good police department here,”
Lambert said. “We can feel safe in
the community, the police officers
agree with me, that their most
important job is to keep people
safe in their neighborhoods.”
(Editor's note: Specific criminal
charges were not available at press
time.)
A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
4
September 29, 2011
Police
FROM PAGE 1
B
ELLEVILLE
- R
OMULUS
District hires firm
to find superintendent
New assistant director enjoys job challenges
Members of the Van Buren Board of
Education have agreed to hire the Michigan
Leadership Institute to facilitate the search
for a newsuperintendent of schools.
The board members heard three presen-
tations from search firms before deciding on
awarding the contract to the Michigan
Leadership Institute, a private, for-profit
firm.
The board did not accept the proposal of
the non-profit Michigan Association of
School Boards which requested $9,750 plus
mileage and out-of-pocket expenses.
The outside firm will conduct the search
for viable qualified candidates and then pro-
vide an orientation workshop with the board
members. The firm has also included 12
months of mentoring in the agreement with
the district.
The district will pay $6,200, plus about
$500 in expenses, for the service, which
could take from12-weeks to a full year.
The expected salary for the new superin-
tendent is $115,000 to $130,000 annually plus
fringe benefits with a three-year contract
term.
Both internal candidates from the district
and external candidates will be considered
for the position.
Current interim Superintendent of
Schools Thomas Riutta submitted his retire-
ment andwill endhis employment Jan. 27.
Roberto Scappaticci has only
been on the job in Romulus for a
few weeks, but he's already got
plenty of big projects tohandle.
Scappaticci, 39, was hired as the
assistant director of the
Department of Public Works,
where he will oversee a variety of
tasks, including managing the city's
larger infrastructure projects, such
as the Goddard Road water main
replacement and an upcoming
water condition assessment.
“This was a good opportunity
and a good start for a career path in
the government sector,” said
Scappaticci, who previously
worked as an engineer with the
municipal engineering firm of
Orchard Hiltz and McCliment Inc.
of Livonia. The firm provides con-
sulting work for bodies of govern-
ment throughout Southeast
Michigan. Through that role, he has
designed and managed a variety of
projects ranging from$500,000 to $3
million.
“Romulus has a goodmix of res-
idential and commercial develop-
ment and the state's largest air
transportation hub,” Scappaticci
added. “That adds a degree of com-
plexity and interest, too.”
Scappaticci earned a bachelor's
degree in environmental science
from the University of Michigan-
Dearborn. He is administrator-cer-
tified as a storm water operator by
the Michigan Department of
Natural Resources and is certified
by the National Association of
Sewer Services Companies. He
also is a member of the American
PublicWorks Association.
Tom Wilson, director of the
Romulus DPW, said he met
Scappaticci when Wilson was the
DPW director in Romulus. Wilson
said he thought the Livonia resi-
dent wouldbe a good fit for the job.
“The background he brings to
the table is key,” Wilson said.
“Decisions on roads, water and
sewer are made easily by someone
withan engineering background.”
Now open...
Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano joined Mayor Alan Lambert and Downtown
Development Authority Director Maria Lambert to cut the ribbon at the new pavilion at
Romulus Historic Park earlier this month. The facility, which will house the Romulus
Farmer's Market as well as other events, was constructed with the help of $130,000 in
grant funds from Wayne County.