Foxborough Assistant Town Manager Leaving For Boxborough

FOXBOROUGH, MA — Assistant Town Manager Michael Johns is leaving his post in Foxborough for a promotion to Town Manager in Boxborough, the town announced on Thursday.

Johns served in Foxborough for the last 12 years. He's spent the last four as the assistant town manager and human resources director, and eight years prior as the town’s director of veterans’ services.

This move comes as a search for the next town manager is currently underway, with sitting manager Bill Keegan slated to leave his role once his contract expires at the end of January 2023.

Of Johns, Keegan said:

"I have truly enjoyed working with Mike over the past four years. He has excellent management and leadership skills that will serve him well in his new role as a Town Administrator. Boxborough will benefit, in the same way that Foxborough has, by Mike’s ability to work collaboratively and strategically with employees and policy makers so that the residents of the community are served at the highest level."

According to the town, Keegan is developing a strategy to continue to support the human resources department. Additionally, it gives the town a new chance to reconsider how the role that Johns held functions.

"There has been some discussion of hiring just an HR Director with a greater focus on personnel issues," the town said. "However, with the Town Manager Search process beginning in Foxborough to replace the retiring Keegan, it is his recommendation that this discussion be held between the Board and the new Town Manager."

As for Johns, he stated that it was his goal to leave his position in the best shape possible for whoever steps in.

"I always preach to employees that the way you arrive and even more so, the way you depart an organization, is a sign of character," said Johns. "I plan to practice what I preach by leaving all my affairs in good order, with solid contracts in place and great labor relations intact."