Breaking news … City manager says his job is on the line; special council meeting today

City Manager Max Garbarino

By Charles Sercombe
Chaos in city hall continues.
The city council will meet today at 4 p.m. (Friday, May 23) to consider firing City Manager Max Garbarino.
It is not immediately known the reason for his firing, nor who exactly is behind it.
But this proposal comes at a time when four of the city councilmembers are alleged to have committed election fraud and two of them for not being residents of the city.
Also, it comes at a time when Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri has been suspended with pay while the state police and FBI have been asked to investigate possible illegal actions.
City Manager Garbarino released this statement:
“It has come to my attention that a special City Council meeting has been called for tomorrow at 4:00 p.m., with the intent to terminate my employment after more than two decades of dedicated service to our city.
“Let me be unequivocally clear: any such action would be retaliatory, unlawful, and a blatant abuse of power.
“Over the past two months, I have taken appropriate and responsible steps to address credible allegations of illegal and unethical conduct within our police department and among elected officials. Due to the serious nature of these allegations,
“I have involved outside law enforcement agencies to ensure impartiality and maintain the integrity of any investigation. This is a standard practice for officials in my position, designed to ensure fairness to all involved and to preserve the credibility of findings.
“I recently received additional credible evidence of serious allegations involving city officials. I refused to ignore these matters and instead entrusted them to the appropriate authorities for fair review. I believe these matters are being handled with due diligence, and I have worked to protect the privacy and reputations of the accused, as is my duty.
“The City Council’s planned employment action against me is not related to my performance or any misconduct on my part. This is pure and simple retaliation:

• Retaliation for lawful investigations into widespread violations of the City Charter and state and local election law.
• Retaliation for my refusal to unlawfully terminate the City Clerk at the Council’s politically motivated demand.
• And now, retaliation in the midst of a criminal investigation by the Michigan Attorney General, which, according to recent media reports has been accepted for prosecution by Monroe County.

“These very council members, now facing potential felony charges, are seeking to remove the one person who refused to compromise integrity to shield their misconduct: me. This is obstruction of justice. This is an attempt to intimidate me as a witness to some of the allegations being investigated.

“If the Council proceeds with this action, you will expose the city to significant legal liability, including claims of wrongful termination, unlawful retaliation, and civil rights violations.
“While I do not wish to litigate against the City of Hamtramck, and my desire is to continue serving our residents with integrity, professionalism, and a steadfast commitment to ethical governance, I am fully prepared to pursue all appropriate legal remedies to defend my name and hold accountable those who misuse public office for personal gain.

“Hamtramck deserves leaders who act with honesty, accountability, and sound judgment — not fear, political retribution, or self-interest. I urge the City Council to reconsider before causing irreparable harm. End this unjust campaign and allow the city to move forward with stability and respect for the rule of law.

“I make a specific plea to Mayor (Amer) Ghalib, who is soon to represent our country as Ambassador to Kuwait. Sir, this moment demands the judgment, principle, and leadership expected of a diplomat serving our nation abroad.
“You must act now to stop this dangerous political sideshow before it causes further harm to the credibility of our city government — something I am fighting with all my might to preserve and restore. This moment demands moral courage and responsibility, not silence.”
The Review reached out to Mayor Ghalib for comment but he did not respond, nor has he responded to several prior requests for comment.

Posted May 23, 2025