FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ORANGE CITY COUNCIL TO RECONSIDER RESTORING SERVICEMAN TO PLANNING COMMISSION
Councilman Denis Bilodeau will ask the Orange City Council on Tuesday to restore Navy Captain Michael Merino to his seat on the Orange Planning Commission. He was denied reinstatement on November 12th, 2013, the day after Veteran’s Day celebrations in the city of Orange.
In January 2012 while serving on the Orange Planning Commission, Captain Merino was deployed to Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in support of the global war on terror. Upon his deployment, he requested a leave of absence from the Orange Planning Commission. This request was approved by the City Council without reservation. Upon his return from service, he requested reinstatement, but Orange Mayor Teresa “Tita” Smith refused. Per the Orange Municipal Code, the mayor has the sole authority to make appointments. Continue reading