Foxborough Veterans Agent Rescinds Resignation

Foxborough Veterans Agent Michael Johns rescinded his letter of resignation, announcing the decision at the May 4 selectmen meeting. 

Johns, who started work in Foxborough in August 2010, recently submitted his letter of resignation to Town Manager Kevin Paicos after learning that the town decided to forgo reviewing his job description and salary classification.

Johns, a disabled navy helicopter pilot with a wife and three sons, stated that he could not support his family on a salary of $33,251. 

Paicos, aware of Johns resignation reasons, knew that his departure was going to leave an almost irreplaceable hole in the veterans community - a hole that selectmen worked hard to fill last year.

"The board made a hard decision a year ago to have a full time veterans officer here to help serve the needs of folks in the veteran community," said Paicos. "Johns has come to the community and done a great job – when I look at the amount of benefits our veterans were getting before and the amount they are getting today is night and day."

Paicos walked the board and the public through the background story concerning the salary of the veterans officer. An outside consultant was first hired in order to evaluate the wages and descriptions of 4 positions - 3 of which do not currently exist yet. Paicos, who hired the outside consultant in order to discover "neutral" findings, told the board that the findings by the consultant showed the veterans officer position salary at $62,000. Many assumptions went into that number including the position moving from clerical to management status.

Paicos then presented the findings to the Personnel Wage Board. The board accepted the placement on the wage plan for the three "non-existent" positions. However, they did not accept the veteran wage because it is an existing position.

The Personnel Wage Board did agree to offer a "top step increase" to the veterans position - $35,000 to $39,000 and a 3 percent cola. Paicos reported back their decision to Johns.

Johns, disappointed in the decision, decided to submit his letter of resignation to Paicos.

"I didn’t want to lose him because he is going a fantastic job," said Paicos.

Paicos took a minute break from the discussion to address the public on rumors that Johns resignation intention was deceitful.

"Some people have suggested that Johns wrote the letter to create leverage and to buffalo money out of the town - but he is a Navy officer for Gods sake," said Paicos.  "Johns was being honest with the town and giving us time to fill the position and in no way was trying to pressure the community."

Paicos then stated to the board that after thoughtful and hard work throughout the weekend, a solution was discovered, causing Johns to rescind his letter of resignation.

"Johns is a special ops helicopter pilot and I am a special ops ground guy -so there was no doubt in my mind we would not work this out," said Paicos.

The ultimate solution proposed by Paicos, which is legal and serves the purpose of the community, involves funding the non-union pay plan study out of Chapter 44, 43B in conjunction with the towns personnel wage bylaw. That study would need the advisory committees support to go forward.

The solution would allow the wage plan for non-union employees to be upgraded to "what it should be."

"We have the opportunity to fix the salary at the same time as everyone else [all other 79 non-union employees]," said Paicos.

However, in the meantime Johns salary would be increased by the double bump, $35,000 to $39,000.

"Johns we will take you on faith and I will make sure as a town manager that I will do everything possible to make [a reasonable salary] possible," Paicos noted.

Many veterans and their families spoke out at the meeting - speaking favorably on behalf of Johns. 

Newly elected selectmen Mark Sullivan asked Johns if he "was willing to make the same commitment to the town as the town is willing to commit to him."

"I want to be sure that if you get that $120,000 offer that you are not going to walk out on us," said Sullivan. 

Johns responded, "the town makes a commitment to me, I will make a commitment to the town. I have made a commitment to the veterans, these veterans have made a commitment to serve their country."

Selectmen made a motion to support the non-union wage classification study to move forward - by endorsing Paicos’ plan aimed at doubling Johns' salary.