METHUEN — State Civil Service Commissioner Paul Stein said he plans to broach the possibility of a settlement in the case of fired police Chief Joseph Solomon.
Solomon has been fighting to get his job back since October, and the case is winding down as lawyers gear up for a hearing this Thursday, when a settlement could be discussed.
Marc Greenbaum, a labor law expert and a professor at Suffolk University Law School, said there are several ways a settlement could play out.
Solomon could be reinstated to a lower rank in the Police Department, but that's "not one that I would bet on," said Greenbaum, who is not involved with the case.
Solomon has repeatedly said that he wants to return as Methuen's top cop.
"There's probably so much bad blood that it's not going to be in either side's interest for him to be back at a lower rank," Greenbaum said. "It creates an awkward position for Mr. Solomon and the current chief (Katherine Lavigne), and could cause divisions among the patrol force and the supervisors."
A more likely agreement would involve Solomon taking a cash payment to drop his civil service appeal, release the city from any liability and forgo a court appeal, Greenbaum said.
Settling has benefits for both sides, he said.
"It's about control," Greenbaum said. "Once you give a third party the ability to make a decision, you've lost all control. By settling, you know where you're going to wind up. You've both said, 'Ouch,' but it's over."
If the lawyers talk about a settlement, it does not indicate who may have won the case, he said.
"It's probably, more or less, both sides think they have something to lose," Greenbaum said.
Settlements are generally common in labor disputes, he said.
Methuen Mayor William Manzi fired Solomon last year after a lengthy disciplinary hearing overseen by attorney Michael Marks. Marks recommended Solomon be fired for verbally abusing officers and allowing grant money to be misspent. He also said the Police Department broke the law when it used taxpayer money to buy marine equipment from Solomon's sister and brother-in-law.
Solomon is appealing to the state Civil Service Commission to overturn his firing. If there is no settlement, the loser in the case can appeal the commission's decision in court.
Retired Methuen police Lt. Michael Alaimo testified at Solomon's hearing in January and said Solomon wanted $500,000 to walk away from his job without a fight.
Alaimo said he talked to Manzi on the phone Nov. 2, 2007, and noted to Manzi that he and Solomon were once friends.
Solomon was on paid administrative leave at the time. Alaimo said Manzi offered to pay Solomon a $50,000 settlement and help him find a new job.
Alaimo relayed that information to Solomon.
"I'm 46 years old and the mayor expects me to settle for $50,000 and the promise of a job somewhere down the road?" Alaimo recalled Solomon responding. Solomon said he would settle for "something in the neighborhood of $500,000," Alaimo said.
Alaimo relayed that to Manzi, and the mayor cursed and asked if Solomon was "nuts," Alaimo said.
Manzi said during a previous interview that dollar figures were mentioned, but he said he "never made a hard offer."
The mayor said last week that there are no settlement talks at this time. He said he has no interest in making an offer, but he'd listen if Solomon made one.
"In our business, you always listen, and I listen anytime people talk," Manzi said.
He said the hearing "went exceedingly well for the city."
"We think we made the case convincingly that the city's actions were justified and in the best interest of the city," he said.
Solomon's lawyer, Andrew Gambaccini, did not respond to calls seeking comment.
