wm** TM Your hometown newspaper serving Westland forSSyevrs Sunday, March 5, 2000 hometownnewspapers.net 75e VoMfw'ttNCinbarTt. Westland, Michigan CCO06 Hometown Communteatiorw Netwotfc"* THE WEEK Mystery e-mail source located Keith Madden, city personnel director, has Brenda Gracin, a Westland woman Prosecutors hadn't announced any AHEAD said he wrote a mystery e-mail under the who supports a recall campaign decision on the probe late last week. name of recall supporter Brenda Gracin. The against four city council members who Madden sent the e-mail in Gracin's fired Gibbons on Jan, 18. name because he wanted to try to e-mail mi sieadingly indicated a protest rally . Gracin countered the erroneous e- defuse protesters who have packed SUNDAY at City Hall had Seen canceled/ mail written by Madden, then only a Council meetings since. Gibbons was mystery writer, and an estimated 125 fired, Price said. Coins: The Wayne Coin BY DARRELL CLEM job or reprimanded in any way for his to 150 people, still protested prior to the STAIT WtrtCK actions, Mayor Robert Thomas said. Feb. 23 city council meeting: New controversy dctcmOo«Jioi&«comni-net Club will hold its annual Madden confessed to sending an e- Madden's e-mail also indicated that The latest flap involving a city direc­ Coin Show from 10 a.m. A Westland city department head mail indicating that a Feb. 23 protest the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office tor surfaced Thursday after Price to 5 p.m. at the Wayne has claimed responsibility for posing as over the firing of City Clerk Patricia appeared close to exonerating council asked the Observer to meet with him­ a Westland resident and distributing e- Gibbons had been canceled, Police members Charles Trav" Griffin, David self, the mayor, City Attorney Angelo Community Center, Howe mail to try to thwart a protest outside Chief Emery Price said. Cox, David James and Sharon Scott of Plakas and police Lt, Marc Stobbe. and Annapolis roads. City Hall, officials confirmed Thursday. Madden sent the e-mail to 127 people allegations they violated the state^ Madden's actions were revealed one Personnel Director Keith Madden just two days prior to the protest, and Open Meetings Act by deciding private­ day after Sylvia Ko^orosky-Wiacek, Admission is free. There ly to fire Gibbons. will be coinSi paper Will not be fired, suspended from his Price said Madden used the name of Please tee LOCATE&, Aft money, stamps, books and other items. Door prizes Hockey fans will be given. Toys: The Westland Rotary Toy Show will take place 10 a.m. to 3 responds p.m. at Joy Manor, on Joy east of Middlebelt in ~\ Westland, There will be to Griffin some 50 tables of antique BY DARRELL CLEM and collectible toys. STAFF WRJTSH Admission is $3, free for dclemftoe.homeconuii.net Ousted City Clerk Patricia Gibbons, kids under 12, defending her job performance, has ^rejected accusations that she lagged on Railroad: Toys and trains fire civil service testing procedures. Gibbons spoke out last week after will be available for buy­ ^Westland City Council President ing / swapping from noon Charles "Trav" Griffin blamed her for to 4 p. m. at Sis. Simon $21,000 in overtime costs for employ­ ees. and Jude Church, 32500 Gibbons flatly denied allegations by Palmer, Westland. The Griffin that she didn't move swiftly enough on fire civil service tests to get fundraiser is hosted by new employees on the job, forcing over­ the Usher's Club. Tables time expenses. at the door, if available, Moreover, Gibbons said the first time she heard Griffin's complaint was are $20. Admission for when she read a Feb. 27 Observer story m event is $2 per person about her job performance evaluation*, or $4 per family. "It is unfortunate that Mr. Griffin or anyone else was unable to bring this matter to my attention white I was city clerk, because I would have worked to resoive it as quickly as possible, as I St/irr PBDTO tf PAUL HlBKHMAM* did with all the issues the city council MONDAY Shooting the breeze: Plymouth Whale Watchers President Laurie Johnson of Westland (at left) members brought to my attention," laughs with Lorrie Michela ofhivonia (far right) and her husband, Bob, during the first inter­ Gibbons said, Gibbons said she handled appoint­ City Hall: The Westland mission of the game a week ago Friday against the Sarnia Sting at Compuware Arena. For ments for firefighter physicals, eye City Council will meet at more on the Whalers, please see page A3. examinations and psychological tests on a timely basis, and she said her 7 p. m. at the City Hall claims can be documented in file*. council chambers, Ford "If Mr. Griffin just took the time to near Carlson. No study check out the dates of the appoint­ ments, he would have found out that I sessions are scheduled for moves did the procedure in a timely manner." the meeting. Gibbons said. Griffin has repeatedly said Gibbons BY JtJLIE BROWN wasn't performing at levels expected STAFF WRITER jbrownOo* Jiomecom m.net for her $69,739-a-year job as clerk. INDEX Some council members said Gibbons The sound reverberates through the had made strides to improve the few Apartm&ntB/EB Jobs/01 gym, bouncing off the walls. The stu­ deficiencies that she had as clerk - and Arts/Ct Malts/C6 dents move as a group, practicing their that she shouldn't have been fired. Au1omotive/H6 . Movies/C4 kicks und*'!' their instructor s watchful Griffin wasn't the first to criticize Classjfled/E.OiH New Homes/El eye. Gibbons' handling of fire, civil service Classified Obituaries/A6 11¾ a karate class; sponsored by testing procedures, In early February, index/ea Real Estate/El Westland Parks and Recreation at the former Assistant Fire Chief George Cross* 6rd/E5 Bailey Center, There are about 15 stu­ Riley also raised similar allegations. Sports/W dents this Wednesday night, ages 5-.12. Some of Gibbons' supporters dis­ Home and Sendee Taste/01 working with instructors Vicki Martin, missed Riley's statements as an Guide/H4 Travel/Cg Sabine Barrows and Robert Sherby. attempt by him to help Griffin and "Occasionally, we have a bit older other council members whom he sup­ coming in," said Martin, a Westland ports politically. resident and Detroit Edison market­ Griffin and colleagues David Cox, ing/communications manager Most David James and Sharon Scott fired parent? who sign up children want Gibbons on Jan, 18. four days after them to learn discipline, self-control Griffin placed her on leavt», took .hot and other essentials office kevs and ordered her out of Citv "Concentration is a big one." snid Hall. Barrows, 18., of Westland, a Livonia During her 17-month stint as city Franklin High School student She cierk. Gibbons snid no one, including- STAFF Pwrro*T TtWHAWtrr started karate about six. and a half Griffin, ever mentioned problems about Do your best: Instructor Sabine Barrows of Westland works on years ago and works with instructor civil service testing procedures.' punches with Jonathan Shihadeh, 11, (center) of Westland and Tony Valvona. Barrows finds karate "Nor was I given any verbal or wrjt- Mike Sody, 6, (right) of Garden City. **" ™ Pleaae wee KA*Att, A3 -^-- He*** «e* *t**0»ft, A4 Tht fimt place to visit > uken yqu*r* looking for a new place to live? Pipe bomb under car seat detonated, no injuries The Real Estate ads BTJUUlBtOWN • 'Obviously, somobody wanted to kill him. This could have ered » suspect "He had i>een reerivmg VTAfr WRFIU 0 threats over the last couple of months." in JIM tfit fNra#tiKHn«cointB.net boon disastrous.' Stobbe said Those threats r*re consul HomeTWn A pipe bomb detonation Thursday Lt Marc Stobbe errvl to be linked U\ th*' Thiir-idfiv inci­ prompted evacuation of the business -Went land police dent are*, but no injuries were reported 11 i ' in -- — i • •" —^ ^J^^^— I>olice are investignting nil lends The pipe bomb was discovered 'Hiowe wfth information should, tnnuict around 11 am. Thurtday at Westland work, which was nearly done. A» it WHS said, out of concern for setting.off the 1 Sgt Michael G'ould of the 'Westland being detailed and cleaned, the pip* device. The carwas n total loss Car Care o» North Kit, MK) U Marc Police Department at 17'34' 7^1 Hi 11 Stobbe of the Westland Polk* Depart­ bomb was spotted. The fire department assisted in "We're just punting the leads right ment Under the front Beat of a 1995 Police were contacted. "We called out: putting out. the fire that resulted. Frag­ Lincoln, a worker discovered what the bomb squad," Stobbe said, adding ments from the pipe bomb will be'ana­ now," Stobbe said Friday "Obvious)v. lyzed, hy the Michigan State Police someb.ody wanted to kill him This appeared to-ft-pipe-bemb. the airport bomb squad detonated the 1 The car had been in a minor accident, device, blowing up the car and tnorrh crime lob, Slobbe'satd. could have rw<»|* di^nsuvu'i*.' »VS|NU:I1K about a month ago, Stobbe said. It was ing the interior of the building The car belonged to Mumiwn Hash it one of the workers- hud touched < h« I taken to Weetland Car Care for repair 'Vie didn't want to move the car," he dan. 29, of Westland, who is not mnsirt devirr To cilice f> classified act: 734-591-0900 Newsroom: 734-953-2104 Home Delivery: 734*591-0500 mmmmm mmw mmmmmmmmwmmm mm WW The Observer A Eccentric/ SUNDAY, MARCH 5, 2000 •** mmm *mmm ^»**»i^ii • .<& :iu.iLl-i^.