METHUEN — The state's Civil Service Commission today set aside Joseph Solomon's firing as police chief, ordering him returned as Methuen's top cop Oct. 1.
In a 125-page, and sometimes scathing decision, Commissioner Paul Stein found Solomon worthy of a 12-month unpaid suspension but did not believe the city's claims the chief was guilty of ethical misconduct, poor managerial decisions and mismanagement of federal grant money.
Instead, Stein found Methuen was guilty of "improper overreaching" and "piling on a number of dubious and stale charges without merit which Solomon was obliged to defend."
Stein wrote there was "improper influence that political and personal motives played in every facet of this case, especially in Chief Solomon's unjustified summary removal from office and subsequent decision to discharge him. ...
"I conclude that the Commission is justified to exercise its authority to set aside the discharge of Chief Solomon and to modify the discipline to an appropriate remedial sanction, which is determined to be a suspension for a period of 12 months, measured from the date of his discharge in May 2008," wrote Stein. "Save for this period of suspension, Chief Solomon shall be fully reinstated to his position as Methuen's full-time tenured Police Chief without loss of any other pay or benefits."
An obviously disappointed Mayor William Manzi chastised civil service, saying "the system is clearly broken." The mayor said the city will fight the decision in Superior Court in hopes of keeping Solomon from returning until the appeal is heard.
However, Manzi said Solomon can collect the back pay Stein says he is owed and can also start collecting his weekly paycheck.
The decision "leads to continued uncertainty within the Methuen Police Department," Manzi said. "I can't think of any positive impacts that it has."
Stein gave the city until Oct. 1 to reach a settlement with Solomon that could include an agreement that he not return as chief. Stein said the two-month stay was justified given the length of time that has elapsed since the May 2008 firing and the changes the city has made since the chief was removed from office. Katherine Lavigne was named Solomon's permanent replacement in August 2008 and Manzi signed a three-year contract to keep her on.
Solomon could not be reached for comment. Family members were at his home this morning, putting up balloons in anticipation of his return from his lawyer's office in Worcester.
For more on this developing story, stayed tuned to eagletribune.com
