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GREENSBORO - When Mitchell Johnson leaves city government in July, he'll take the family photos from his desk, his Jim Melvin bobblehead doll, and a pension of about $90,000 a year when he's ready to retire.

This week, as City Council members prepared to dismiss Johnson from his duties as Greensboro's city manager, they offered to keep him on as a city employee for a few extra months to ensure that his accumulated sick leave applies to his retirement.

It was a deal worked out by a handful of council members and approved during a closed session Tuesday night.

"I appreciate council's consideration," Johnson said Wednesday.

Johnson also will receive an additional six months salary, or about $89,500, plus benefits, as severance required by his open-ended contract.

On Tuesday night, the council voted 5-4 to relieve Johnson, who had been city manager since 2005, of his duties. The decision came after nearly a year of some council members calling for his job and questioning his leadership decisions.

But despite the criticism, Johnson had strong allies in Mayor Yvonne Johnson and council members Robbie Perkins, T. Dianne Bellamy-Small, Goldie Wells.

Until recently, Mitchell Johnson's supporters also included Councilwoman Sandra Anderson Groat and Councilman Zack Matheny.

Learning that Councilwoman Mary Rakestraw planned to call for Johnson's dismissal Tuesday, other council members needed to decide which side they would take.

On Friday, Groat said, she became fed up with the fighting among council members and decided Johnson needed to go. Matheny, who was questioning his own support of Johnson, followed suit.

Their decisions - combined with previous calls for Johnson's dismissal by council members Rakestraw, Mike Barber and Trudy Wade - meant there would be enough votes to fire Johnson.

Both Matheny and Groat said they met with Johnson to explain their decisions, and said they fought to make sure Johnson would receive good benefits.

Johnson will continue to work at his current salary, $179,000 a year, until July 15.

The sick leave that he accumulated over 26 years as a city employee - nearly a year and a half worth of sick time - will count toward his retirement as long as he is a city employee until this summer.

That accumulated time will ensure he receives about $90,000 a year from the state employee's retirement fund when he retires.

Matheny said Johnson got the city manager job at the wrong time - just as the city was dealing with accusations of racism within the police department. Police Chief David Wray later resigned after Johnson locked him out of his office. Those issues soured public opinion of Johnson early in his career as manager.

"He could pave Elm Street in golden sidewalks. It is not going to matter," Matheny said Wednesday. "He is still not going to get the benefit of the doubt."

Removing the city manager will help the city, residents, council and Johnson get a fresh start, Matheny said.

On Wednesday, Johnson got to work packing up his corner office to move to a new spot - a small, windowless space crammed next to rows of floor-to-ceiling filing cabinets.

His Jim Melvin bobblehead was on a small table. His files of confidential police information were in boxes under the desk. Cans of Coca-Cola were on the shelf.

Johnson was reluctant to discuss his issues with council members, and he declined to talk about what he might have done differently.

It's still unclear what he will do for the city during the next few months. He will be assigned some responsibilities by the new acting city manager, who likely will be appointed by council members Friday.

Some council members indicated Wednesday that Johnson likely would help with the city's budget preparations.

Contact Amanda Lehmert at 373-7075 or amanda.lehmert@news-record.com