BOSTON — Michael Neve said he once offered William Manzi a $15,000 bribe to get a zoning variance, which Manzi refused to take.
This was what Neve told the state's Civil Service Commission yesterday during a hearing for fired Methuen police Chief Joseph Solomon, who is trying to get his job back.
Neve said he offered the bribe six or seven years ago, when Manzi was a city councilor. Neve said he was trying to build a home on his parents' property at 52 Baremeadow St., but had been denied a variance by the Zoning Board of Appeals after neighbors objected. After the board's refusal, Neve testified he asked Manzi, "What do I do now?"
"I offered the money, $15,000, if he could help me get a variance," Neve testified.
According to Neve's testimony, Manzi said he couldn't do anything to help him. Neve described Manzi as his friend.
When asked about Neve's testimony yesterday, Manzi said Neve never offered him money. He offered only advice: talk to neighbors.
"He would say silly things all the time," Manzi said. "That type of silly thing was never said to me."
Solomon claims he took Neve's story to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and that is why Manzi fired him. The U.S. attorney's office will not confirm whether an investigation exists. Solomon claims one is ongoing.
'Satchel" comment meant as joke
The former chief claims Manzi solicited a $15,000 bribe that was to be delivered in a "satchel."
Neve, who is testifying on behalf of the city in Solomon's appeal, said he tried again to get the zoning variance last year. Around February 2007, he saw Manzi driving alone. He said he followed Manzi until Manzi stopped at a credit union. He asked Manzi if he had done his "homework," which Neve described as meaning, "If he could have said to somebody, 'Could you please give this variance some consideration, if possible,'" Neve said.
The two chatted and before driving off, Manzi rolled down his car window and said, "Don't forget the satchel," Neve testified.
Manzi "smirked" and Neve "interpreted the statement as a joke," Neve said.
But Manzi said none of that happened.
"I don't have a basis for saying that," Manzi said, saying that because Neve never offered the $15,000, he had no reason to suddenly say, "Don't forget the satchel."
FBI agents showed up at his home
Neve said he later mentioned the matter to Solomon, whom he also described as a friend.
That conversation took place around September 2007 — the same month Manzi placed Solomon on paid leave.
Solomon "was very angry" that he "was going to lose his job, and he thought there was a lot of corruption in the city and he was sick of it," Neve testified.
"Just recently, the mayor asked, 'Don't forget the satchel,'" Neve said he told Solomon. "Joe says to me, 'What do you mean, satchel?'"
Neve proceeded to tell Solomon about the bribe offer and Manzi's alleged joke.
"He got all excited about this," Neve said. "He started saying, 'We could use this.'"
"I said, 'This was never going to happen Joe. Use what?'" Neve testified.
Solomon wanted to take the allegation to the FBI, according to Neve. Days after Neve talked to Solomon, two FBI agents showed up at Neve's house.
"Is this the land you paid Manzi for?" Neve said an agent asked him.
Neve said he told the agents he never paid Manzi.
Now Manzi is accusing Solomon of filing "false reports" about the bogus bribe offer to the FBI.
"It's a burden for my family and it's a despicable act in light of his obvious attempt to save his job through that type of despicable action," Manzi said.
Neve didn't finish his testimony yesterday because his attorney, James Krasnoo of Andover, had a scheduling conflict and had to depart before lawyers could finish questioning Neve. Neve is scheduled to return to the hearing Nov. 25 at 9:30 a.m.
Solomon is appealing to the state Civil Service Commission to win his job back. Manzi fired him May 7 after receiving a report from attorney Michael Marks, who oversaw Solomon's city disciplinary hearing. Marks recommended Solomon be fired for verbally abusing officers, allowing grant money to be misspent, and paying his sister and brother-in-law taxpayers' money to take care of the department's marine equipment.
"Solomon failed to accept responsibility for any errors, mistakes, ethical lapses or errors in judgement," wrote Marks in his report. "He made unsubstantiated claims of alleged political corruption. ... In my opinion, the claims by Solomon are repugnant and he has sought refuge by impugning the reputation of others."
