Report: Oakland County road commission broke workplace rules

A County Street Commissioner violated the foundations for intimidation within the office throughout a confrontation earlier this yr with a street supervisor, in accordance with an impartial researcher.

Commissioner Jim Esshaki was appointed Street Fee in January by County Fee.

“He saved conduct and made feedback that had been a risk of violence, and which was intimidation and shaped and
Intimidation, “wrote lawyer Heidi D. Hudson of the legislation agency Zausmer, based mostly in Farmington Hills. The street committee employed Zausmer to research the incident of 20 June.

The street committee has no authority to self-discipline or take different motion, Hudson wrote. That’s the duty of the district committee.

On Friday afternoon, Esshaki informed the Oakland Press in an SMS that “the whole incident is a pity (s) each of us might have been handled in a different way. I’ll make a proper apology.”

Hudson’s analysis reveals that Esshaki argued on 20 June with foreman Walter Mersino Jr. From the street committee, who criticized throughout an April assembly throughout an April assembly about their determination to cease the development of a brand new administration constructing.

In accordance with Hudson’s report, Mersino had stopped at a Maple Street workshop to fulfill a colleague who was recognized as “A.” Mersino was in his work automotive when Esshaki arrived. The 2 males shake arms earlier than Esshaki began asking about Mersino’s public feedback and requested for 3 the reason why the brand new constructing ought to be accomplished. When Mersino mentioned he did not wish to focus on it, Esshaki mentioned that Mersino wouldn’t discuss with out an viewers.

Hudson reported that the dialog grew to become confronting and loudly, in accordance with Mersino and “A.”. Allegedly, Esshaki mentioned that he and Mersino might “go behind some timber and might deal with this” and reportedly clamped his fist on one another, in accordance with the Hudson report.

Report: RCOC commissioner Jim Esshaki

Mersino mentioned he wouldn’t combat whereas working, however mentioned that Esshaki would come to his home, after which Esshaki reportedly mentioned, “What about now?” Hudson wrote.

When Mersino mentioned he had to return to work, Esshaki mentioned: “Go away right here, little woman,” mentioned Hudson’s report.

The Hudson report reveals that “A” Esshaki noticed because the aggressor and the instigator. “A” later intervened within the confrontation when it escalated and informed Mersino to remain in his truck and go away the office.

Hudson interviewed Mersino and 9 different workers of the Street Fee and assessed the office coverage of the street committee. Esshaki refused Hudson’s interview request and despatched messages via his lawyer, David Gorcyca of Troy-based Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton.

One in every of Gorcyca’s messages to Hudson acknowledged: “We consider/consider that this individual has an issue with RCOC administration and not too long ago appeared for the (Street Fee) and made very contemptuous, impolite and unprofessional private assaults on committee members.”

Mersino was one of many greater than a dozen individuals who spoke throughout a public commentary throughout a board assembly of 24 April who had been very upset concerning the cancellation of the brand new constructing and the ethical of the workers. All audio system criticized the actions of the board.

Gorcyca doubted Mersino’s credibility based mostly on his public feedback.

“Mr. Mersino’s feedback had been among the many vital, however weren’t out of character with the feedback of others,” wrote Hudson, including that she didn’t assume Mersino had an incentive to overdo or lie about what occurred on June 20.

Mersino informed Hudson that he didn’t really feel bodily threatened by Esshaki, however believed that his job was at risk. He thought Esshaki was making an attempt to think about him in a combat that will result in Mersino being fired, Hudson wrote.

Different witnesses who spoke with Hudson had been additionally recognized by letters. They spoke with Mersino about an hour after the incident and later requested the street security division of the street committee whether or not there was a video digicam within the space, however that was not.

Different workers informed Hudson that chairman of the Eric McPherson street committee visits varied work places to speak to workers about issues with the street committee, however weren’t conscious of Esshaki who made such visits besides on 20 June.

An worker recognized as “C” additionally heard Mersin’s report of the incident shortly after it occurred and once more a number of days later personally. “C” mentioned Hudson that Mersino continued to say that he couldn’t consider {that a} commissioner would do or say what Esshaki mentioned to him.

Different workers gave Hudson comparable accounts. One mentioned that Mersino was so upset whereas telling the incident: “I needed to inform him to delay and breathe.”

Colleagues described Mersino as ‘even Kieled’, a ‘stand-up man’, ‘unpolished however sincere for a mistake’ and afraid of dropping his job.

“The feedback of Mr Esshaki can’t moderately be described as a ‘store chat’ or a joke between associates or colleagues,” Hudson wrote. “As a street commissioner, he holds a dominant place about Mr. Mersino. He should undoubtedly be held on a better behavioral normal, however a minimum of he should comply with the relevant coverage for the conduct of office.”

She mentioned that some witnesses had been anxious that Esshaki might need worn a hidden weapon on the time of the incident, however she discovered no proof of that.

Mersino’s report was credible, she wrote, partly as a result of he was solely one of many many workers of the Street Fee who criticized the choice of the board to cancel the brand new constructing.

“Het was de heer Esshaki die op een werkplek stopte om met de heer Mersino te spreken. Hij initieerde het gesprek over de overtuiging van de heer Mersino dat het nieuwe gebouw een betere oplossing was dan een bijgewerkt oud gebouw,” schreef Hudson “(Esshaki) en escaleerde toen het gesprek en maakte beledigende opmerkingen en nam de heer Mersino uit om hem te bestrijden, toen de heer Mersino probeerde het gesprek te finish. “

Civil servants from the street committee had no feedback on the report. County Fee -chairman Dave Woodward, a Royal Oak -Democrat, and Commissioner Mike Spisz, an Oxford Republican and minority viewer, didn’t reply to requests for feedback from the Oakland Press. Woodward, Spisz and Commissioner William Miller III, a Democrat by Farmington, served in an AD HOC Committee that studied operations for greater than two years, however stopped in Might 2024. The report of that committee was not launched.

Initially revealed: September 19, 2025 at 7:11 PM Edt