NEWTON FALLS — The Newton Falls Civil Service Commission voted 3-0 this week to reinstate Matthew Evans to his position as a lineman in the electric department after he was fired in December by interim Village Manager Pam Priddy.
Priddy claimed Evans violated the village’s bullying and gossip policy by making false statements about her at a council meeting and later badgering her at a meeting.
Evans, who has worked for the village for seven-and-half years, requested a hearing to get his job back.
He raised questions at a village council meeting in December about the health insurance carrier the village was contracting with, and if Priddy had any personal connection to it based on what he said he read on the Better Business Bureau website.
Edward McCoy, chairman of the commission, said the commission voted that Evans, who was fired Dec. 8, be given his job back with back pay.
“We feel what he did was not belligerent. We do not feel it was something he should have been fired over,” McCoy said, adding that Evans needs to be cautious when he presents information and needs to make sure it is accurate.
Evans said after the meeting he was pleased with the decision.