Pizzi Faces Backlash Over Resignation Of Town Clerk
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MIAMI LAKES (CBSMiami) -- Miami Lakes residents lashed out at Mayor Michael Pizzi during Tuesday's council meeting. This time over the resignation of Town Clerk Marjorie-Tejeda Castillo.
Tejeda-Castillo, who attended Tuesday's meeting, was visibly emotional as residents urged Mayor Pizzi to do something to bring her back.
According to internal emails obtained by our news partners at The Miami Herald, Mayor Pizzi met with Tejeda-Castillo and Town Manager Alex Rey on Monday morning and threatened them with a lawsuit over two items on the July agenda.
"This is a simple rule change. It's all it was," said Miami Lakes Councilman Nelson Rodriguez.
One of the items,13B, sponsored by councilman Tony Lama who was out of town but joined the meeting via Skype called for letterhead and resources not to be used for non-town sponsored events.
The other item,13C, suggested by Councilman Rodriguez, dealt with bringing back an old rule for the town clerk to be the person in charge of calling up residents wishing to speak at town meetings.
Councilman Rodriguez expressed concern after hearing about the mayor's alleged threats.
"It could be an intimidation factor for doing her job. The manager and the clerk respond to the council specifically the manager," said Rodriguez. "If he told them not to do their job, that could be a major charter violation."
In regards to her resignation, Castillo issued a statement saying, "This was not an easy decision. It has been a challenging, thus rewarding 7 ½ years and I am leaving with a big sense of accomplishment. It has been a pleasure to serve the town in which I grew up in and will continue to raise my children in."
Mayor Pizzi denied making threats against the town clerk or manager.
"I'm sorry if she misinterpreted that. I love her to death. I've known her since she was 15 and I consider her a part of the family," said Pizzi. "I love her very much. I hope she would reconsider and come back."
Mayor Pizzi pointed on this latest conflict on council members.
"The council is using the staff to stop me from resuming my duties as mayor and that's not what the people want and they're putting the staff into all these confrontations and it's a shame," said Pizzi.
This is not the first time Pizzi has had issues with the public.
Earlier this month, the town council requested the Florida Department of Law Enforcement conduct an independent probe into a crash he was involved in.
Back in April, Pizzi was reinstated as mayor after he was found not guilty in a corruption case.