Well-known Fire Chief Richard Marinucci – who in March was asked by Northville Township officials to resign or be fired – has filed a lawsuit claiming wrongful termination, age discrimination, violation of the Michigan Open Meetings Act and denial of due process, among seven separate counts, following a reported issue with a township financial audit. He is seeking minimum damages of $175,000.
The lawsuit stems from a determination in March that the township would not receive a clean financial audit “because of related party disclosures.” That includes a number of fire associations for which Marinucci’s wife worked and with which the township conducted business. In the suit, Marinucci, who was recruited to join Northville Township in 2008, claims township officials were long aware of his work with fire industry associations.
Marinucci, 62, who served as fire chief for Northville Township since January 2009, is asking for a minimum $25,000 for each of seven counts against township officials. Prior to joining the Northville Township fire department, Marinucci served as Farmington Hills fire chief from 1984 to 2008. He is also an adjunct faculty member at Eastern Michigan University’s Fire Service Staff and Command School.