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October 7, 2021 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN PAGE 5

WAYNE
WAYNE

Lawsuits target conduct of Wayne city manager

The conduct of Wayne City authority by Nocerini. Court fil-
Manager Lisa Nocerini is the ” ings including sworn statements
basis of two separate lawsuits That prosecution of Blackwell is also from a former police chief, a
filed in U.S. District Court seek- director of personnel, a former
ing monetary damages from the a crucial issue in the case filed against the city by city clerk and elected officials,
city and city officials. Hughes, 2015 Wayne Police Officer of the Year. among others.
Attorneys for the city last week The city has continued to deny
filed responses to both lawsuits all the allegations in the lawsuits
denying all the assertions of the and has produced a letter from
plaintiffs who each single out Blackwell contends in his ing for a new police chief, admit- an EMCO employee asserting
Nocerini's conduct as the basis court filings that the charges filed ting that Hughes obtained the that Strong received the highest
for the award of monetary com- against him were a misuse of highest score in that testing. He test scores.
pensation. authority by Nocerini and that also asserts that both he and the Mayor John Rhaesa has stated
Criminal charges filed against without her influence and inter- other candidate for the job, cur- previously that the “lawsuits are
Wayne resident Mark Blackwell ference in the process, he would rent Chief Ryan Strong, were completely without factual or
are central to the lawsuits filed by not have been charged and subse- assured repeatedly by city and legal merit and will be aggres-
both Blackwell and Wayne Police quently forced to incur the finan- EMCO officials that the promo- sively defended. As it pertains to
Sgt. Abraham Hughes. cial burden of a legal defense or tion would be based solely on both cases, the city looks forward
Blackwell is seeking damages the subsequent damage to his those independent test scores. He to the exoneration of the city and Lisa Nocerini
for the harm and violation of his reputation, along with mental infers that Strong's agreement to its hard-working employees as it substances in her car. Those
civil rights when misdemeanor anguish. serve a warrant on Blackwell was relates to both matters.” criminal charges were filed only
charges of stalking and disturbing That prosecution of Blackwell the inducement for Nocerini to One former official, who asked after the state police investiga-
the peace were filed against him. is also a crucial issue in the case interfere in the hiring procedures not to be identified for fear of tion found them without merit
He contends that Nocerini influ- filed against the city by Hughes, and award the position to Strong. retaliation, said it is very clear but reopened based on evidence
enced those charges against him 2015 Wayne Police Officer of the Hughes claims the video and that Nocerini “has weaponized submitted by Nocerini's investiga-
in retribution for his criticisms of Year. In his latest court filings, sworn affidavit from an EMCO the police department.” tor. Those charges have not yet
her job performance at public Hughes claims that Nocerini employee, along with the timing The official cited another case been decided in court.
meetings. Those charges were used her position of authority to and procedures in the serving of currently in the court system in Based on those case filings,
summarily dismissed by Garden interfere with the selection of a the warrant on Blackwell, prove which Nocerini personally hired however, Nocerini filed a lawsuit
City District Court Judge Richard new police chief in her efforts to Nocerini's interference in the a private investigator to pursue against the city for damages she
L. Hammer who found that have Blackwell charged. process. Hughes also presented evidence and witnesses in an claimed she suffered as a result
Blackwell was within his rights Hughes claims that he has the court with signed affidavits effort to criminally charge a for- of being victimized and accepted
and that the conduct cited in the video of an official from EMCO, from a number of former Wayne mer elected official. She claimed a financial settlement of an
complaint was constitutionally the outside company employed city officials and employees the official, with an accomplice, undisclosed amount from the city
protected. by the city in 2018 to perform test- attesting to witnessing misuse of planted a weapon and suspicious insurer in the matter.
High school Homecoming ‘royalty’ to be crowned Friday

There will be no Homecoming ing gender-specific titles to the Memorial High School is planned
King or Queen at Wayne attention of the student council. ” for Oct. 15 when the royalty will
Memorial or John Glenn High The leadership students at John Students are voting now to determine be announced during halftime.
School this year. Glenn High School learned of the This football game is also the
There will, however, be royalty concept this summer and the con- which of their peers will be selected annual Crosstown Rival and will
and some crowns bestowed. Both cept was presented to students at for the two homecoming royalty positions. start at 7 p.m. There is a $5 admis-
high schools decided to do away both schools. Students agreed sion fee to enter the William
with the gender-specific titles and the change in the convention- Elliot Athletic Field. In addition,
and announce the victors as al terminology was adopted. The the community can support the
homecoming “royalty” instead, change is also an effort to be school on the parade route,
which can be students of any gen- more inclusive for those who do district said in a prepared state- coming royalty positions. John which kicks off at 5 p.m. on
der. not conform to traditional gender ment. Glenn High School Homecoming Fourth Street off of Ash Street,
Last school year, Wayne identities and to ensure all stu- Students are voting now to was last Friday and followed a then proceed toward Glenwood
Memorial High School brought dents have the opportunity to feel determine which of their peers parade along Marquette. Road and head east to the
the idea to change the homecom- included, a spokesman for the will be selected for the two home- Homecoming at Wayne William Elliot Athletic Field.