West Bloomfield board accepts resignation of trustee Jim Manna, who faces hidden-camera charges

The West Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees has accepted the resignation of Trustee Jibran "Jim" Manna, who is charged in a hidden-camera case, and has 45 days to fill his seat, C&G Newspapers reported.

The six trustees present at a special meeting Oct. 7 voted unanimously to accept the resignation, according to C&G. Manna was absent.

The resignation

Manna's attorney, Mitchell Ribitwer, submitted the resignation to the board Sept. 30 along with a letter from Manna, C&G reported. Manna wrote that he was stepping down so his pending legal matters would not distract from the board's work.

"Serving this community has been an honor and a privilege," Manna wrote, according to C&G. "My resignation should not be construed as an admission (of guilt) or as reflecting upon the merits of any pending matter."

Manna had served on the board since 2016, C&G reported.

The charges

Manna was arrested Aug. 9 and arraigned Aug. 14, C&G reported. He is charged with two counts of capturing images of an unclothed person, each punishable by up to five years in prison, and five counts of installing an eavesdropping device, each punishable by up to two years. He was released Aug. 14 on a $100,000 bond. He had not attended a board meeting since his arrest, according to C&G.

Charges are accusations. Manna is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. For the latest on the court case, see our court watch.

What trustees said

Township Supervisor Jonathan Warshay said the board has 45 days to fill the vacancy, according to C&G. C&G did not report how the board will choose an appointee.

Trustee Michael Patton said he meant his comments to be "kind and gracious."

"I think he is doing the right thing by resigning today," Patton said, according to C&G. He said Manna had lost or was potentially losing his reputation, his job, his marriage and, "although presumed innocent still," his freedom.

Treasurer Terri Weingarden said the board needs all seven members. "We're not here to discuss the merits of the case — that's Trustee Manna's personal situation," she said, according to C&G. "If he's not going to be present at the meetings, I'd like us to select someone from the community who will be able to make that commitment to us."

Trustee Vincent Kirkwood said Manna represented the township's Chaldean community, which he put at about 25% of the township's population, and told residents the community would still be represented. Trustee Diane Rosenfeld Swimmer and Clerk Debbie Binder said board members represent the entire township, C&G reported.

This story uses reporting from C&G Newspapers.