Wayne County appointees bank big pensions in addition to paychecks

DETROIT (WXYZ) - The revolving doors at Wayne County’s headquarters have been very good to some county appointees.

“We have people who are receiving two checks from Wayne County,” said Wayne County Commissioner Bernard Parker.

While some made good money as full-time employees, others found that the best money came in retirement. 

Take former appointee Bill Wolfson: he retired as one of Robert Ficano’s legal advisors in 2009 and started drawing his $125,020 county pension.  But he didn’t ease into a relaxing retirement.  In fact, he came back to the county as a legal contractor, earning up to $233,000 in legal contracts since retirement, in addition to his big pension.

“There’s no reason why someone should get two checks from Wayne county for doing a job they were doing before for one check,” said Commissioner Parker.

Most of the county’s double-dippers work at the sheriff’s department. Suzanne Hall retired almost three years ago from her job as department director and started collecting her $109,618 pension. She was immediately re-hired at $109,392 to keep performing her old job.

Same with Jeriel Heard. The 34-year Sheriff’s department veteran retired almost 10 years ago, drawing his yearly $106,318 pension. He was replaced with himself, paid $115,000 per year.

All three have free, lifetime health benefits paid for by Wayne County taxpayers.

“Isn’t that excessive,” asked 7 Action News Investigator Heather Catallo.

“No, I don’t think so,” said Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon.

Sheriff Napoleon says the process might seem greedy, but he says it’s actually saving the county money.   By putting employees on contract, the county doesn’t have to pay for a new employee with benefits.

“I realize how some people don’t like it, but in the long term it’s serving the police agency and the citizens better,” said Sheriff Napoleon.

But the county may not be getting the best deal when it comes to Eric Smith. He’s a longtime friend and political advisor of both Napoleon and Robert Ficano. And he’s made a lot of money off the county.

Smith resigned from Wayne County in 2006, leaving behind a $140,000 county salary. But he quickly came back in 2007, this time as a county vendor. Smith was handed up to $474,000 in legal contracts between March 2007 and September 2010 - $131,666 per year.

At the same time that word got out about a lucrative county retirement incentive—Smith returned to the county again as a full-time employee in 2010.  He retired less than six months later. It allowed him to leave with $57,760 in severance—a bonus just for leaving.  And he started collecting almost $87,758 in his yearly pension.  A couple of months after Smith retired, he decided to come back again. 

Just recently, the Wayne County Commission approved a six-figure contract for the county vendor Smith now works for in the Sheriff’s department.  He’s back now at $55 an hour. 

“You don’t think he’s milking the system,” asked Catallo.

“Absolutely not!  I think, I am proud to have him as part of this administration.  I think he earns every dollar he gets,” said Sheriff Napoleon.

Sheriff Napoleon says Smith has been critical in negotiating with unions and has saved the county millions.   Union leaders in the sheriff’s department also applaud Smith, but struggling county employees aren’t so sure.  That nearly $60,000 in severance Smith got is twice what county employee Benita Jackson earned last year.

“Everyday it’s harder and harder, and you still are paying me less. My insurance went up. I can’t even afford food for my kids to eat,” said Wayne County employee Benita Jackson. 

By our count, Smith’s collecting at least 4 paychecks.  In addition to his pension from Wayne County and his wages as a county contractor, his resume says he has two other jobs: a law practice located in the Ford Building, and a job as a public administrator for Wayne County Probate Court.  His resume doesn’t say how much time he spends doing each job.

In addition to free lifetime health benefits paid for through the county, Eric Smith also has access to a county sheriff’s vehicle.

Eric Smith, Sue Hall, Jeriel Heard, and Bill Wolfson all declined to speak to us for this story, but officials say they’re just taking advantage of what they’re allowed to by county rules. 

In some states, double-dipping has been outlawed and there was a push in Michigan do the same.  It never made it out of committee in Lansing. 

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