THE SPECTATOR: SETTLING WITH THE FIRE CHIEF
The abrupt firing of Brenham Fire Chief Ricky Boeker by City Manager James Fisher is going to cost the City and its taxpayers’ money. How much money is yet to be determined, as the City Council will meet with Chief Boeker’s attorney in an executive session behind closed doors this Wednesday. Boeker was fired by Fisher on April 6th when he did not accept the City’s terms for his early retirement. From the documents received by KWHI as a result of our Freedom of Information Request, it appears that on March 15th of this year, the date of Boeker’s 2nd annual review with Fisher since Fisher became City Manager, Boeker was informed that he was being dismissed and offered terms for an early retirement. Boeker’s only other review by Fisher in 2019 speaks of him in glowing terms and calls him “a valued team member whose contributions to the success of the organization are immeasurable”.
In explaining Boeker’s dismissal, Fisher pointed out a number of issues with the Fire Department and said he had discussed these problems with Boeker numerous times over the past couple of years. KWHI followed up on that claim by Fisher in our request to see the contents of Boeker’s employee file. As an employer I know that you should always document conversations and meetings with employees when you discuss their performance, or problems with their job. As a government employee, Fisher should certainly know that. However, there is little to no documentation in Boeker’s file about conversations, meetings or memos between Fisher and Boeker concerning problems with his performance. The first such documentation is dated March 15th of this year, the day of his review and notification of dismissal.
There may be very good reasons for Fisher to decide to replace Boeker as Brenham’s Fire Chief. They’re just not apparent in his employee file. From what we do know, I believe this is another situation that has been handled poorly by our City Manager. Someone who chose to fly out of town right before a well-forecasted winter storm of the century hit Brenham, which put his employees into crisis mode.
And that’s the way it looks to this Spectator.
Everyone on here that says that they want FISHER GONE then please go vote. We are seeing tremendously low early votes! IF you want CHANGE on City Council, and you want our CITY MANAGER GONE we need VOTES!
Well I see some of the people are finally opening their eyes. I have been saying for years we need to use our votes to change thing. So get out and vote.
From where I sit the City of Brenham does not need a new fire chief, it needs a new city manager.
So Fisher’s excuse for firing Boeker was that he was bad at his job. But since he got caught in that lie, his only defense is that he’s bad at his job. Liar or bad city manager? I say both.
If it was not properly documented, it did not happen, every manager, even new ones know that. For a man with as many years in management as Mr. Fisher I am shocked that he would fail at such a basic responsibility, but that assumes these talks took place as stated.
From my perspective as a humble citizen, I am watching our city fail at so many things that are traced back to leadership. So many people were upset at the changed roles of city boards early in Mr. Fisher’s tenure, we have The Great Garbage Debacle where a major city service was changed in the face of strong citizen protest without proper explanation in what appeared a lot like a “good ole boy” deal, then as you point out he indeed does fly out of town in the face of a widely forecasted storm where he had to ask the fire chief for assistance in his personal home, the same chief he now fires without any DOCUMENTED reasons SEVEN DAYS before his retirement. Please forgive my very simple view, but it is time for Mr. Fisher to go. It appears that he does not understand Brenham or the values of our people, he does not understand our town or what we expect, it is time for a change! When will our city council open their eyes and make this much needed change. If they do not, they may well find themselves voted out at the next election.
Thank God for The Spectator. Long may he deliver the straight story and truth to the people of Washington County.
I used to be a resident of Brenham and I left Brenham because of I got tired of the good ole boy system within the City of Brenham. Seems like it to me Mr Fisher is not going to play the good ole boy system and it does not matter who you are if your not doing your job then you need to go. From an outsider looking in I think he’s doing a great job!!
Key word is used to be. If you like Fisher so much why don’t you get him hired to screw up you city you live in and leave Brenham alone! Maybe with our votes we can get him out of here ASAP before he can mess this town up any more!
Thank you Spectator the truth does come out there is another motive for Mr Fisher to destroy Mr Boeker’s lively hood. He needs to be stoped but the city council we have now, has no backbone to stand up to Mr Fisher. Early voting starts today so go make a difference in your city council. MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD!!! If not,nothing will change.
YES I VOTED THIS MORNING!!! THAT IS THE ONLY WAY WE ARE GOING TO MAKE CHANGES.. PERFECT TIMING, VOTE THEM OUT.!!!!!!!
Well said! Maybe the City Manager needs to have a performance review; might not turn out well though.
My Previous statement I meant to say “Get him Out of Brenham”
We need the council to do a “Vote Of No Confidence ” on Fischer and Get him put Of Brenham.
Thank you spectator!