By Dan Hust
MONTICELLO — Monticello Police Chief Doug Solomon’s official last day in office is February 29, but thanks to some accrued personal time, his last day in the office on Pleasant Street will be this Thursday.
Yesterday, the Monticello Village Board unanimously agreed (minus absent Deputy Mayor TC Hutchins) to settle a dispute Solomon and village officials had wrangled over for months.
Solomon felt he was entitled to compensation for the 259 sick days he never used in his decade as chief. The village argued he was only entitled to payments for 150 days.
“I had to compromise a little at the end,” Solomon admitted yesterday, right after the vote.
Village Manager John LiGreci said the village compromised a bit, too, agreeing to pay Solomon $9,500 for the days beyond that 150 mark – about half of what Solomon sought.
Combine that with the undisputed accrued leave, and Solomon will get $69,516 in 10 monthly payments, said LiGreci.
Two lieutenants – William Van Hage and Mark Johnstone – will lead the department in the chief’s absence, said LiGreci.
Once February 29 passes, he expects to name one of them as acting chief. The village manager has the power to solely appoint the police chief, though the board is bound to weigh in – especially since Mayor Gordon Jenkins is seeking applicants from outside the village.
“I’m pretty sure it’s going to be Van Hage, until we decide to outsource or hire from within,” said LiGreci.
Meanwhile, in March, Solomon will begin his tenure with the City of Beacon as its police chief.
“It’s definitely time for a new challenge,” Solomon said.