Royal Oak city manager terminated, temporary replacement named

Inside minutes, the Royal Oak fee fired a metropolis supervisor and appointed an interim throughout Monday’s assembly.

The board added three objects to the assembly earlier than approving the agenda: Metropolis Supervisor Joseph Gacioch’s employment contract; an appointment of an interim metropolis supervisor and a deputy metropolis supervisor.

With out dialogue or dispute, the commissioners unanimously agreed to terminate his contract, based mostly on a clause permitting town to take action “at a duly approved public assembly,” in response to the contract language.

No purpose was given.

Gacioch took care of town’s each day actions. He was Royal Oak’s fifth metropolis supervisor in 5 years. He was employed unanimously in October 2024 after town’s seven-month seek for a alternative for town supervisor.

In line with info on town’s web site, Gacioch got here to Royal Oak with 20 years of expertise in management and administration. He was metropolis supervisor in Ferndale for 13 years earlier than becoming a member of the workers of neighboring Royal Oak, in response to his LinkedIn profile.

Gacioch and Pontiac Deputy Mayor Khalfani Stephens had been finalists for the function, together with Oak Park Metropolis Supervisor Erik Tungate. Tungate withdrew from consideration earlier than the ultimate spherical of interviews.

Gacioch didn’t reply to The Oakland Press’ request for remark.

Royal Oak spokeswoman Kara Sokol informed The Oakland Press that metropolis leaders appreciated Gacioch’s contributions “throughout his one-year time period and … want him the very best in his future endeavors.”

Commissioners unanimously appointed Metropolis Legal professional Niccolas Grochowski as interim metropolis supervisor, and Police Chief Michael Moore as interim deputy metropolis supervisor with the present deputy metropolis supervisor, Susan Barkman.

Sokol stated Moore’s parallel function with Barkman is meant to “make sure the transition workforce is correctly staffed so we will guarantee everybody’s wants are met.”

She stated Grochowski and Moore “are skilled and act rapidly.”

Gacioch’s contract included an annual base wage of $196,100 and advantages together with a automotive allowance of $650 monthly. Underneath the settlement, if Gacioch was fired for something different than simply trigger, town would pay him 9 months of his wage, an estimated $147,000.

Some causes talked about within the contract:

• acts of insubordination.

• habits unbecoming of a metropolis supervisor.

• acts of a felony nature, acts of ethical turpitude, gross negligence or acts of the same nature.

Different much less severe causes not acknowledged might embrace violations that haven’t been corrected by way of progressive steps, in response to the contract language.

– Detroit Information reporter Max Reinhart contributed to this story.