CITY OF BRENHAM ADDRESSES NEXT STEPS FOR FIRE DEPT.
The Brenham City Council met in executive session today (Friday) to consult with the city attorney regarding the Brenham Fire Department, following the resignation of Fire Chief Roger Williams and the retirement announcement of Assistant Chief Brian Scheffer.
(City of Brenham)
The City of Brenham said in a press release that to address the fire chief vacancy, it is working with an organization that specializes in interim governmental staffing. The current fire captains, Andrew Jozwiak, Josh Sebastian and Brett Schroeder, will continue in their capacity with day-to-day responsibility for department shifts.
Williams joined the fire department in September 2019 and became full-time chief in January 2022. The reason for his resignation is not known.
Scheffer, who is retiring effective October 27th, is transitioning to a new role as a Regional Training Coordinator for Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. He started at the fire department in May 1997 as a volunteer and was promoted to apparatus operator in July 2000. Scheffer expressed gratitude to the city and community for the opportunity to serve in the fire department for 26 years.
(City of Brenham)
The city invites the public to his retirement recognition during the city council meeting on November 2nd, with a reception to follow at the Fireman’s Training Center.
Scheffer is the Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Brenham. Pursuant to state law, the local jurisdiction designates the EMC, which is responsible for disaster preparedness and coordination of response, and also works closely with the Texas Department of Emergency Management. For an interim period, Washington County has agreed to partner with the City of Brenham for emergency management coordination.
In the release, the city noted the increase in staffing for each shift during Fiscal Year 2023, from five to six crew members, and the addition of three firefighters in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget, bringing the total per shift to seven. The city also purchased a new pumper truck, which was priced at almost $900,000 and is scheduled for delivery in mid-2024. Construction on the second fire station is also slated to begin in mid-2024.
How about the city manager and council members support the fire chief for once.
I find it ironic that as soon as the Brenham Fire Department starts talking about running first responder to medical calls the fire chief “resigns.” Chief Williams has done a lot for this county and has pushed the county departments to new levels and I know he had big plans for the fire service in the city working with the county fire departments and was a huge asset. I wonder if they did to him what they did to Ricky Beoker. Resign or be fired. Sound like the city government needs to be overhauled.
Yes, time to overhaul city government. I went to pay my utility bill. What do these people in the back offices do all day. Is this whole building full of cubicles full of lead wright that is weighing taxpayers down with increasing utility costs and skyrocketing property taxes?
why not hire from with in always bring in outsiders being a fire chief can’t be that hard of a job it’s not rocket science common sense and school of hard knocks goes a long way
Not that hard? I’m not a fire chief, but I think you clearly have no idea at how much work is involved in running a fire department. Driving an Uber is not that hard; running a city department of any type is a ton of work.
I did not say that the job was easy a person doesn’t need a college degree to be a fire chief the firemen that are employed with the department now should be good candidates for the job with all their years of experience . and good luck with your uber job
As a citizen that lives in a combustible box, I don’t want the hard knock to be me or a young firefighter trying to get to me. As a taxpayer, I don’t want the hard knock to be the City’s budget when they get sued for gross negligence. Competence and experience don’t come cheap. Neither do the consequences of ineptitude.