Belchertown recall elections will proceed against 3 selectmen even though the issue that prompted them, initial opposition to keeping Fox on the job, has been reversed.
Francis R. Fox Jr.BELCHERTOWN – After months of uncertainty, a new contract has been signed by all five selectmen and Police Chief Francis R. Fox Jr. that keeps him on the job through June 30, 2014.
Fox said the deal brings him closure.
Three of the five selectmen still face recall challenges in the May 16 town election. The challenges were prompted by their initial opposition to renewing the contract for Fox.
In February, Selectmen James A. Barry, Kenneth E. Elstein and George D. Archible voted not to offer Fox a new contract and did not say publicly why they wanted to replace him as chief when his current contract ends June 30.
The vote led to a meeting where about 100 people showed up to support keeping Fox as chief, and even though Archible and Elstein subsequently switched positions and voted with the majority to negotiate a new contract with Fox, the recall signature drive proceeded.
During a brief discussion about the contract Monday, Elstein apologized to Fox and his family and to the people of the town and said it was an extremely difficult situation.
“Communications have been dismal in this whole episode between this board and the people of the town,” Elstein said.
Elstein said the new eight-page contract has language about job performance appraisal and other items that will improve communications between the selectmen and the chief.
Belchertown selectmen George Archible, James Barry and Kenneth Elstein will face a recall election during the annual town election on May 16.Barry said the language about performance evaluations makes this contract stronger than previous contracts with the chief.
“He is our chief of police. He is going to be our chief of police. I support the Police Department and I support the chief,” Barry said.
Archible said he is comfortable with the decision to sign a new contract with Fox. He said that when he cast his original vote against contract renewal, he was acting in the best interest of the town and in good conscience.
The base salary for the job will stay at $79,536 under the new contract, but the chief will receive any raises granted to other non-union town employees covered by the Personnel Bylaws.
Education-based benefits, known as the Quinn Bill provisions, will stay in effect for the chief’s pay even though the state has withdrawn from any responsibility for paying a portion of these benefits.
Selectman Ronald E. Aponte said salary was never an issue with Fox throughout the contract deliberations.
Aponte and Selectman William R. Barnett favored a new contract for Fox throughout the process.
“One of the things that comes through loud and clear in this entire process is that the Board of Selectmen and the chief of police have to communicate better,’ Aponte said.