Deja Vu all over again

When Middleboro was seeking a new Town Manager, a search committee composed of former Selectmen included Mr. D'Agostino in their final selection, failing to research the trail of discord and dissension left in his wake in Mansfield.

In his current position as Town Manager in Abington, Mr. D'Agostino's conduct is both unprofessional and childish.


Middleboro made a wise choice! OPINION: Time to ‘emancipate’ Abington town manager


Oh, where is Abraham Lincoln when a poor town official needs him.

“Lincoln freed the slaves, it’s called the Emancipation Proclamation,” D’Agostino said – later apologizing for the “slave” comments.

Abington residents should thank their unhappy town manager for the history lesson and the stunning display of offensive language and arrogance.

Slavery? Emancipation Proclamation?

Is D’Agostino joking? Local officials all had praise for his work and said they would have liked to pay him more, but Abington, like many communities, has serious financial problems.
We say “emancipate” D’Agostino – as soon as possible.

If people want to know why Abington Town Manager John D’Agostino hasn’t received many pay raises in the last few years, all they have to do is read the letter he wrote to the chairman of the Board of Selectmen Wednesday.

The letter, requesting permission to seek a job elsewhere, is riddled with grammatical errors, is confusing and contradictory and bears all the earmarks of having been banged out in anger. That’s somewhat strange since D’Agostino has violated his contract and only wrote the letter because local officials learned from the media that D’Agostino was planning an escape from town before his contract is up in 2013.

The letter is a serious breach of faith between D’Agostino and the residents of Abington and quite disappointing. Based on the letter and D’Agostino’s comments to The Enterprise, Abington should gladly let him break his contract and leave so someone with integrity and commitment can take over the post of town manager.

The trouble started recently when D’Agostino’s name turned up as a semi-finalist for the post of city manager in Key West, Fla. D’Agostino said it’s “unfair” that he “can’t test the value of my worth” while he works in Abington.

Amazingly, D’Agostino said he wasn’t aware that it was a violation of his contract to look for another job while working in Abington, even though he signed a contract that says he “may not actively seek employment during the term of this agreement without the written consent of the town.”

Can it be any more clear? D’Agostino signed on for three years, and he now makes more than $120,000 per year. We don’t believe for a minute that he didn’t know his contract forbids seeking employment elsewhere without permission. Didn’t he read his own contract when he took the Abington job?

But D’Agostino isn’t going to be “a slave for the town of Abington,” as he told us. Well, how about just doing the job you’re paid to do?

D’Agostino said town officials have ignored his hard work as town manager and didn’t give him enough in salary increases. At least we think that’s what he said. His letter to selectmen Chairman Chris Aiello makes no sense at times.

But D’Agostino was crystal clear when he talked to our reporter after sending the letter to Aiello. He wants more money and isn’t going to be anyone’s “slave,” as he put it – not even at $120K per year.

Read more: http://www.enterprisenews.com/topstories/x792222526/OPINION-Time-to-emancipate-Abington-town-manager#ixzz1tQk1Ix9l