An arbitrator has directed Plum officials to put a fired public works employee back to work.

Police said Joseph Pietropaolo, 40, of Plum removed a brass bell from a borough home in March 2007 while boarding up the house. Arbitrator William J. Miller Jr. wrote in his decision issued earlier this month that although Pietropaolo acted inappropriately, the borough did not prove he committed theft. Miller wrote that Pietropaolo should have been suspended for 30 days, the Pittsburgh Trib reports.