Methuen shows caring for others its chief attribute

It’s Methuen’s version of two tales in one city — of avarice and generosity.

In greed’s corner we have Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon, one of the highestpaid law-enforcement officials in the country, who on Monday announced his intention to retire.

On the compassionate side, we have Methuen City Hall, which decided to refund more than $100,000 in alcohol license fees to restaurants struggling to survive during this prolonged pandemic.

Solomon, who’s been Methuen’s top cop for nearly 20 years, has gained national notoriety — not for his crime-fighting skills — but for helping draft labor contracts that benefited himself and his close associates, and in the process raised his salary to more than $300,000 a year.

That means Solomon, who oversees law and order in a city of 50,000, makes about $100,000 or so more than the director of the FBI.

But it looks as though the chief ’s alleged salary sleight of hand may have backfired.

He’s been on leave — paid of course — since the state’s inspector general issued a scathing report in December concluding Solomon helped draft those egregious labor agreements.

Inspector General Glenn A. Cunha found that Solomon and Capt. Greg Gallant, head of the 19-member Methuen Police Superior Officers Association, violated their duty to the public by creating contracts that paid police leadership excessive salaries without explaining the costs to then mayor

Steve Zanni.

Methuen’s current City Council also has taken a vote of no confidence in Solomon, at the same time the state Civil Service Commission investigates hiring and promotions in the Methuen Police Department on his watch.

Critics claim Solomon gave jobs and promotions to favored candidates in the months after city councilors approved a contract that paid him $326,707 in 2019.

Even if he departs, Solomon would continue on Methuen’s payroll, since he’s eligible for a pension that could exceed $240,000 a year.

And Solomon’s final gift to Methuen taxpayers before he goes out that Police Department door? A likely exorbitant bill for unused vacation and other professional time that he alone recorded.

Solomon has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and defended his salary, which was publicly discussed — but obviously not understood — before the city’s leaders approved the contract.

But it could be a long time — if ever — before Solomon receives a retirement check or that unused vacation windfall.

Some city officials insist Solomon shouldn’t be allowed to just retire with allegations of corruption still pending.

Mayor Neil Perry said on a recent podcast that a soonto-be-released management audit was highly critical of Solomon’s leadership of the department.

We can only hope city officials’ charitable gesture toward some of Methuen’s strapped small businesses overshadows the police chief ’s alleged bilking of taxpayers.

Mayor Perry told Boston 25 News that the city decided to use some of its federal CARES Act funding to refund all common-victualler and alcoholic-beverage license fees for 2020.

“These small businesses, they’re vital to us,” Perry said Tuesday. “They’re the lifeblood of our community… they help us in so many different ways. They support youth sports, they support our community with contributions.”

John Vargas, owner of Bada Bing! Pizza, a Hampshire Street restaurant and bar, called Perry to thank him after opening his check for $2,575.

“To open up the mail today and see it, it was just very refreshing, and it helps,” Vargas said.

That’s the caring Methuen we believe represents the vast majority of its citizens and public servants, and not the selfish, self-serving few that dominate the headlines.