Plan for Ficano's third driver is nixed amidst fury over perk
Copyright 2013 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Posted: 03/20/2013
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By: Ross Jones
DETROIT (WXYZ) - The man who Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano wanted to hire as his third chauffeur has withdrawn his pending contract with the county, 7 Action News has learned.
The contract, first reported on Monday , caused a flurry of controversy.
County officials learned of Fred Barry’s decision this morning. He was the man Ficano wanted county commissioners to approve tomorrow as his third county-paid driver. Ficano already has two drivers who chauffeur him around in his county-leased Cadillac to the tune of more than $140,000 a year combined.
Barry’s contract for driving Ficano was much smaller: about $7,600 for the year to drive the CEO 2-3 times a month, but only when the other two drivers aren’t available. He was to be paid another $47,000 for supervising employees in a county alternative workforce program.
News of Ficano’s request for a third driver spawned outrage throughout the county, especially in light of deep budget cuts made in the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office.
Prosecutor Kym Worthy today said that the 26 layoffs she had to make last week make our region drastically less safe.
Contact the 7 Action News Investigators at tips@wxyz.com or at (248) 827-9466.
Copyright 2013 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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