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Eagle Tribune - North Andover,
08 May 2007

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Methuen Police Department, MA

Council votes 'no confidence'

METHUEN - A divided City Council voted "no confidence" in the police chief last night, saying they were frustrated by the department's mishandling of thousands of dollars of a federal grant the city must pay back.

Five of the nine members supported the resolution that takes police Chief Joseph Solomon to task for "mismanagement" and "misapplication" of the funds.

The vote was symbolic but was a way to show the public that the council was not "sweeping the issue under the rug," said Councilor Robert Andrew.

Solomon was suspended by Mayor William Manzi without pay last month after the U.S. Justice Department said police misspent federal grant money. Solomon served the three-day suspension but has appealed to the state Civil Service Commission.

In suspending Solomon, Manzi followed the recommendation of a hearing officer who said the suspension was warranted because the Police Department did not follow the guidelines for use of a $50,000 federal grant under the COPS Homeland Security Overtime Program.

The mayor's investigation of the chief began in March after the federal Department of Justice demanded the repayment of $30,000. The Justice Department said money that was intended for beat officers was used instead to pay overtime for supervisors.

The council will have to reaffirm the no-

confidence decision in a second vote at the next council meeting. City Solicitor Peter J. McQuillan said it is a nonbinding, symbolic designation.

The resolution states: "this Council by virtue of this vote does hereby express and declare a vote of no confidence regarding the Chief of Police of the City of Methuen due to the failure to perform those duties required of him."

During more than an hour of discussion last night, councilors criticized each other's motives and at one point called for an ethical review by the city attorney.

Councilor Phil Lahey said he supported the resolution after learning that the chief appealed the suspension. Solomon forfeited about $1,800 in pay based on his $154,866 salary.

"That got me angry," Lahey said of Solomon's appeal. "It's a slap in the face to the mayor and his authority. (Solomon) had a fair hearing. It's extremely important a department head accept responsibility."

Other councilors supporting the no confidence vote were Andrew, Larry Giordano, John Cronin and Ken Willette. Councilors Kathleen Corey Rahme, Deborah Quinn and Joseph Leone voted no. Chairman Stephen Zanni voted present.

"This affirms that we're not happy with chief's actions in this regard," Willette said. "There is no sense of accountability or responsibility."

Leone encouraged councilors to vote to support the mayor's three-day suspension of the chief, instead of creating the negative vote against the chief. His effort failed to earn majority support.

"The mayor took the action he needed to take," Leone said. "The (city) charter doesn't give us the right to interfere."

Quinn and Rahme criticized Cronin, Andrew and Giordano for putting forth the no confidence resolution. Rahme told councilors to consider if those three had "personal vendettas against the chief."

"I don't think we need to add fuel to the fire," Rahme said. "We need to wait and see what is going on before we hastily make a decision that is disrespectful to the chief and the department."

Quinn questioned whether Cronin should vote on the issue at all and asked for a legal opinion. Cronin's son is a former police officer who is suing the city, the police chief and the deputy chief. She called the vote a "distraction to the city."

Cronin said he spoke to an attorney from the state Ethics Commission about whether there was a conflict of interest.

"I feel secure and confident that I am allowed to vote on this," Cronin said.

Solomon emerged from the mayor's office minutes before the council meeting began, but left without entering the council chambers.

The council did not discuss a proposal by Cronin to create a police commissioner job. Cronin withdrew his proposal, saying he wanted to rewrite some areas of the request and resubmit to the council in a few weeks.

Solomon joined the police force in 1986 as a patrolman and rose through the ranks to become a captain and head of the Neighborhood Services Division. He was appointed chief in 2002 by then Mayor Sharon Pollard.

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Article sourced from

Eagle Tribune - North Andover,08 May 2007

Council votes 'no confidence'

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Eagle Tribune - North Andover,
08 May 2007